A limited polio vaccination campaign is scheduled to be launched in Makkah on Saturday for children under five years of age. Dr. Abdul Hafeez Bin Ma'ruf Turkistani, Assistant Director General of Health Affairs for Primary Health Care and Preventative Medicine in Makkah, said the campaign will be carried out by giving two doses. The first will be done starting Saturday and continue for three days, while the second will commence on May 22 and will continue for a similar period. He said an awareness and guidance program has been prepared in collaboration with government and private agencies. Turkistani said field teams have been formed to visit homes and give the doses to children. He warned the public to deal with health employees holding identity cards. Turkistani said the male and female employees will have medical machinery and cars for evening work. According to officials, this move by the Makkah Health Affairs is because of the arrival of visitors and Umrah pilgrims from African and Asian countries that have not totally eradicated the disease. Turkistani explained that “polio is highly infectious and spreads quickly. It strikes the nervous system and can lead to a disability for life”. Turkistani said the polio virus settles in the digestive canal and multiplies there.
