The Hindu : National : Plan for polio drops to Haj pilgrims

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Friday, Nov 24, 2006
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Plan for polio drops to Haj pilgrims

Special Correspondent

States asked to make arrangements

NEW DELHI: The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has asked the State Governments to make provisions for giving oral polio vaccine to the pilgrims going for Haj.

The States have been asked to make arrangements for providing polio drops at the airports from where the flights leave for Saudi Arabia.

This has been done following the decision of the Saudi Arabia Government that all Haj pilgrims from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan regardless of age and vaccination status should receive at least one dose of vaccine prior to departure for Saudi Arabia.

This decision was conveyed to the Health and Family Welfare Ministry through the External Affairs Ministry on November 21.

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has asked all State Governments to make necessary arrangements at all the health facilities for administration of the vaccine as well as issue of certificates to Haj pilgrims.

The State Governments have been requested to set up vaccination booths at the offices of the State Haj Committee as well as the airports from where the flights for Saudi Arabia leave.

This arrangement would ensure that the pilgrims, who are unaware of the decision, are administered the vaccine before departure and the certificates are issued to them.

Flights carrying Haj pilgrims take off from Aurangabad, Nagpur, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Srinagar, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Jaipur, Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

Immunisation of all travellers prior to departure will minimise the risk of importation of the virus to countries that have worked hard to eradicate polio. It will also boost the immunity of the travellers, especially vulnerable young children.

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