Egypt- Ministry of Health launches national campaign for vaccination against poliomyelitis

Egypt's Ministry of Health launched on Wednesday the national campaign for fighting against poliomyelitis in Egyptian children and Egypt-based foreign children from the age of one day to five years.

The campaign lasts for four days from 16 to 19 February, and vaccines free of charge for all children in Egypt, according to a statement from the ministry. The vaccination is 100% safe and the campaign itself will be monitored by World Health Organisation, the ministry statement reads.

Spokesperson for the ministry Khaled Mogahed said that the national campaign to vaccinate against poliomyelitis will be implemented in all governorates and targets approximately 16.5 million children, pointing out that vaccination in rural areas will be administered house to house to reach all targeted children, while urban area children will be vaccinated by mobile teams on the streets.

There are also fixed teams in the health centres, rural health units, and maternal and childcare centres. Additional teams are also centred close to mosques, churches, clubs, markets, public parks, and subway stations. About 90,000 medical personnel are involved in the campaign.

Alaa Eid, Head of Preventive Medicine Sector, says that the ministry will provide 3300 cars for medical team transport, and the sector is collaborating with local authorities to facilitate the teams' work.

The last registered case of poliomyelitis in Egypt was 14 years ago, according to Eid. He said that the ministry is conducting annual vaccination campaigns to ensure raising heard immunity for children.

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