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April 09, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Gauteng Children to Be Immunized Against Polio"

SAPA-South African Press Association (www.sapa.org.za) (04/05/03)

South Africa's Gauteng Health Department is launching a polio immunization campaign for children this week, according to department spokesperson Simon Zwane.  South Africa has not reported a polio case since 1992 and plans to become polio-free, as declared by the World Health Organization, by the end of 2005.  Zwane noted that most children in the province previously received the polio vaccine but not in time to ensure proper immunity against the disease.  He also said that a recent survey found that 80 percent of Gauteng children are fully immunized, although 30 percent are not immunized on time, which could put the children at risk.

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