Booster for fight against polio

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) is offering free poliomyelitis vaccinations to Thai and foreign children under the age of five. PPHO Chief Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong explained that parents may take their children to any health center, hospital or medical clinic on December 18 to receive the primary polio vaccination, and on January 21 for a booster shot. “We have organized the vaccinations because we are concerned that children who haven’t received enough vaccine – at least two shots – may become infected by the disease,” Dr Wanchai said. He added that another concern is that migrants from countries such Burma, Bangladesh or India may have brought the virus to Phuket. “We usually vaccinate children under five at schools, but because it is now the school holidays, the children won’t be coming to school to be vaccinated,” he explained. The costs of the vaccination drive, which is taking place across Thailand, are being met by the World Health Organization and the Rotary International Foundation. The vaccinations will be administered orally.