National Immunization program gets off to a smooth start

by Carol Aloysius

Sri Lanka's Expanded Immunization Programme ( EPI) which this week ( July 1) introduced a new Injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine ( IPV) for four months old infants is progressing well with a positive response from the public , health officials told the Sunday Observer , Saturday. Chief Medical Officer Public Health, Colombo Municipal Council Dr Ruwan Wijeyamuni said that the 16 CMC run Maternal and Child Health Clinics visited by over 90 percent of ante natal mothers in the city were now fully operative. He said, circulars giving clear instructions on the procedure to be followed had been issued to these clinics by the Director General Health Services, Dr P.G. Maheepala ahead of the commencement of the programme . ''We are following these instructions strictly and maintaining the cold chain with the special fridges designed to store the vaccine at the correct temperature given to us by the Family health Bureau,'' he said.

Chief Medical Officer Dehiwela, Mt Lavinia and Ratmalana Dr Indika Ellawela said , ''Our Public Health Midwives and Public Health Inspectors carried out an awareness programme for all new mothers attending our clinics in these areas, assuring them there of the safety of the IPV injection. So most new mothers have accepted it as part of the normal immunization programme'' Epidemiology chief Dr Paba Palihawadana reiterating that no side effects of IPV had been reported told the media ''Wednesday IPV would be given as another injectable vaccine with the second dose of Pentavolent and OPV. Both injections would be given at a single visit for the convenience of the mother and child.''

No Polio cases have been reported in Sri Lanka since 1993. The World Health Organization's s global target is to eradicate Polio globally by 2018.