By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Over 1.6 million children under the age of five have been vaccinated in the just concluded first round of polio vaccination across the country, with a second round of vaccination, targeting all children below five years, to start on 8th of June this month, according to a statement from the Deputy Health Minister 1, Dr. Charles Senessie.
Senessie made this disclosure during a round two vaccination campaign press briefing on 5th June 2024 at the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) in Freetown.
He called on all parents, caregivers and school authorities to make their children available for the second round of polio vaccination that he said will commence from 8th to 11th June this year.
Speaking at the conference, the Executive Director, National Public Health Agency, Professor Foday Sahr described the completion of the first vaccination as a significant milestone in their fight against the nOPvV2 polio virus, saying the “achievement” was made possible because of the efforts of their healthcare workers.
“Today we embark on the second phase of this crucial campaign,” Sahr added. He highlighted how the second round would target all children under the age of five, urging parents and caregivers to ensure their children are available when their vaccination teams visit communities.
He also highlighted how their vaccination sites and mobile teams would be operational in various locations across the country, and that they are committed to ensuring every child in Sierra Leone is protected against the nOPV2 polio virus.
“We are at a critical juncture in our battle against the nOPV2 virus. Vaccination is the most powerful tool we have to protect our children and secure a polio-free future for Sierra Leone,” Sahr emphasised.
In his statement, the Chief Medical Officer, Sartie Kenneh calimed they have launched an aggressive campaign to immunize children aged 0-59 months against the Nopv2 polio variant. “The first round of vaccination has been successfully completed, thanks to the efforts of healthcare workers, volunteers and public cooperation. Today, I am pleased to announce the commencement of the second round of Nopv2 vaccination,” Kenneh added.
According to him, their goal is to ensure every child gets vaccinated, adding that the second round is crucial for building on the immunity that was established in the first round and also preventing a resurgence of the virus.
He maintained that mobile teams will be deployed nationwide to reach remote areas, and that they have implemented safety protocols to ensure the vaccination process is safe.
“The nOPV2 vaccine has undergone extensive testing and is deemed safe and effective by global health authorities. The side effects are rare and generally mild, such as slight fever,” he said.
The Programme Manager for the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Dr. Thomson Igbu recalled how the virus started, noting they had confirmed a polio case in March this year through an environmental sample of the virus that he said was collected at the Marbella spot. ”This actually prompted the response to the outbreak of polio. So immediately polio was declared an outbreak in Sierra Leone,” Igbu noted, adding that they had to request for funds so they could do two rounds of polio vaccinations across the country.
He added how they had done the first round of vaccination last month, which he said was a success. He however noted that there were “few challenges” in some districts during the first round of vaccination.
The Programme Manager disclosed that vaccines for the second round have been distributed in all the districts.
In March 2024, the type 2 poliovirus was confirmed in Sierra Leone, leading to synchronized house-to-house polio vaccination campaigns in the first round.
The synchronization aimed at ensuring that every child under the age of five received the polio vaccines. This round marks the first of the two planned rounds with the second one expected to take place in June this year.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (07/06/24)
