KTH launches IPV to end polio

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) on Tuesday launched the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) with a slogan of eradicating polio from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The health department in collaboration with Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) had organised the launching ceremony of IPV introduction in routine immunisation at the KTH here. Provincial Secretary Health Dr Jamal Yousaf chaired the ceremony.

KTH Medical Director Dr Nadeem Khawar, Hospital Director Dr Farman Ali, Dr Amin Jan, senior paediatrician and Pakistan Paediatric Association president, WHO team leader Ibrahim Salaha and UNICEF and Dr Mohammad Ayub Rose, deputy director Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) were present on the occasion.

The speakers said that the use of IPV would prevent the deadly disease through proper and timely vaccination of the children.They stressed the need for strengthening the routine immunisation and boosting efforts for polio eradication through IPV, which the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department introduced into routine immunisation schedule.

EPI Deputy Director Dr Ayub Rose said that IPV has been introduced into routine immunisation in 126 countries of the world.  He said that IPV dose would be given as a single shot along with Pentavalent and Oral Polio Vaccine at the age of 14 weeks.