Describing the introduction of Injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) as a significant step to provide double protection to the children against polio, Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Prakash Ganga said that this is an important step in the Polio Eradication Programme which will strengthen full immunization efforts in the country. The Minister said this today after launching the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) during a function organized by the Health Department at Accidental Hospital in Vijaypur , Samba. The Minister also administered polio drops to the children on the occasion. On the occasion, CMO Samba Dr. Rajeev Sharma, BMO Ramgarh Dr. Harbaksh Singh, Incharge Accidental Hospital Vijaypur Dr. Naresh Gupta, doctors and staff members were also present. While speaking on the occasion, Ganga said that though India was certified polio-free in the year 2014, the battle against polio is not over yet. “The virus is still active in our neighboring countries- Pakistan and Afghanistan. Cases of polio still happen there. So the risk of reintroduction of the disease remains, particularly through importation from these endemic countries,” he said. “There a is need to put in sincere efforts to ensure that every child in the state is benefited by the immunization programme, the Minister said adding that doctors and field functionaries have a vital role in making the people aware about these immunization programmes. The Minister appealed to people that even after receiving the IPV vaccine with the third dose of OPV (polio drops), the children must continue to receive OPV doses under routine immunization and in pulse polio campaigns till they are five years of age.
