13,000 parents in Punjab refuse polio drops for children

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FILE - This Nov. 7, 2013 file photo shows a displaced Syrian child receiving vaccination against polio at one of the Syrian refugee camps in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon. Polio has been wiped out of many countries thanks to massive use of oral vaccine. But new research suggests trying a one-two punch where the disease is still a threat: Giving a single vaccine shot to children who’ve already gotten the drops boosted their immunity. World Health Organization officials say the combination strategy could help finally eradicate polio. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari, File)

LAHORE: Following the polio drama in Peshawar, more than 13,000 parents have denied administering anti-polio drops to their children in the drive against this crippling disease, in Punjab on Wednesday.

According to Coordinator Emergency Centres for Polio Elevation Program Salman Ghani, the anti-polio drive has suffered serious blow in the province as thousands of parents have refused to administer anti-polio drops to their children across Punjab, in the wake of Peshawar Polio drama.

Peshawar was gripped in a panic Monday morning as rumours spread like a wildfire that the anti-polio vaccine had caused children to fall ill and faint in several areas of the city.

On the first day of the campaign, 13million children were administered anti-polio drops, while several refrains and denied the teams following the rumours of Peshawar.

Detailing the number of the parents who denied vaccinating their children during anti-polio campaign city wise, Salman Ghani said 5,600 parents said “no” to polio teams in Rawalpindi.

In Lahore and Attock, 600 and 500 parents refused to anti-polio teams, who visited them for administering anti-polio drops to their children.

“The children who were left in the campaign will be administered anti-polio drops in next phase”, Ghani said and urged parents not to take rumours seriously and get their children administered anti-polio drops to save them from the crippling disease of polio.