With an urgent plea for parents to overcome vaccine hesitation, a crucial four-day anti-polio vaccination drive was launched in the Abbottabad district on Monday, as officials stressed that complete public participation is essential to protect children from the lifelong affliction of polio.
The December 15-18 immunization initiative was formally inaugurated by Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Nazir Ahmad Abbasi at a ceremony at the Bakot Primary Health Center, where he administered oral polio drops to children to kickstart the program.
Addressing the gathering, MPA Abbasi stated that the eradication of polio remains a paramount concern for the provincial government, which is dedicating all available resources to secure a polio-free future. He underscored that vaccination is a proven and safe method to prevent permanent disability in young children.
He strongly encouraged parents to ensure their children receive the vital drops during every immunization drive and praised the dedication of the health department and frontline polio workers. The MPA called upon the public to offer their full cooperation to the visiting vaccination teams.
District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Shahzad Iqbal, also present at the launch, briefed attendees on the operational details. He confirmed that specialized teams have been deployed throughout the district with the objective of immunizing every child under the age of five during the drive.
Concluding the event, MPA Abbasi engaged with local residents, reiterating his appeal for the community to actively support the national anti-polio mission to permanently eliminate the disease.