Children in Cameroon, aged zero to five, have begun taking the type-2 polio-derived vaccine to immunise themselves against poliomalyties, an infectious viral disease that affects the central nervous system and can cause temporary or permanent paralysis.
The first round of vaccination is taking place all over the National Territory, mostly in areas where the prevalence is high.
This vaccination campaign, as explained by medics, is different from the routine vaccinations that have taken place in the past.
In 2023, routine vaccination intensified following the outbreak of the polio virus in 2022. So this current vaccination, which started on Friday, March 1, is expected to last until March 9, 2024.
In Buea, Southwest Region, health officials are targeting over 24 thousand children ages zero to five. The various health zones adopted door-to-door and school-to-school strategies to reach out to more kids. After that, they intend to target community gatherings and other public places to ensure that no child is left out.
The vaccination is done by dropping the liquid vaccine into the child’s mouth, and to avoid a double dose, the child’s finger is painted black. According to the health officials in the Molyko health coverage unit, after the first round, another one will be coming by April.
To them, the vaccine is type-2 polio, and it is vaccine-derived. They said that for children who have taken the previous routine vaccine, it is still compulsory for them to receive the type-2 polio vaccine that has been rolled out.
“The reason for this vaccine is to fortify the immune system of the children so that as they are moving, the vaccine should make them strong,” a medic out on the field told us.
The medic, however, cautioned that to curb the virus, people should keep their surroundings and children clean because the mode of transmission is through fecal-oral roads.
Some sight effects the doctor said are the inability to walk by the child until the age of 5.
Aside from the ongoing campaign for the type-2 polio-derived vaccine, there is also a catch-up routine vaccination for any child who has missed all other vaccinations.
“So, any child that the team meets that has not been taking the routine vaccination will be vaccinated.”
As the team moved from door to door, some parents expressed satisfaction that the vaccine was going to help shield their children from some diseases. However, some were hesitant.
