Health
Government to conduct Polio immunization exercise in January 2022
The government of Uganda is set to conduct a polio immunization campaign across the country targeting an estimated 8 million children below 5 years of age.
Uganda will carry out the exercise with support from the World Health Organization, WHO.
According to Emmanuel Ainebyoona the Spokesperson in the Ministry of Health, the national immunization campaign is scheduled for January 2022 and will be conducted from house to house to ensure that all the targeted population is covered.
The ministry recommended the national immunization campaign after a polio variant virus, derived from vaccines was discovered in parts of Kampala and in Neighboring South Sudan.
The Moroto District Health Officer Dr. Hans Lokaale says the Polio virus is mutated and attacks people who are not vaccinated.
He also encouraged parents to ensure their children are available for vaccination when the ministry rolls out the campaign.
According to the ministry of health, Uganda has never registered a wild polio case since November 2010.
Paralysis is the most severe symptom associated with polio because it can lead to permanent disability and death. Between 2 and 10 out of 100 people who have paralysis from poliovirus infection die, because the virus affects the muscles that help them breathe.
