Officials with the Somali government have introduced a novel vaccine that to protect children from polio and to maintain the nation’s polio-free status.
Fifteen months ago, health care workers in Somali confirmed the nation’s last polio case. The new vaccine is being implemented to help the country maintain its goal of total elimination of polio.
“The new vaccine is key to protecting children from polio,” Hawa Hassan Mohamed, Somalia’s minister for health, said. “We are willing to work with all our partners to ensure that we do not see a return of this incurable disease that has devastated so many young lives.”
In May 2013, there a polio outbreak in Somalia affected 199 people, mostly children. Last month, health officials declared that the outbreak had ended.
“The new vaccine is key to protecting children from polio and ensuring that we do not see a return of this incurable disease that has devastated so many young lives,” Steven Lauwerier, UNICEF’s Somalia representative, said. “UNICEF is committed to ensuring that Somali children receive the maximum protection and are given all life-saving vaccinations on time. Continued efforts and collaboration among all partners and communities will strengthen routine immunization and ensure this takes place.”
