Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

 

------------------------------------------------------------

 

March 6, 2002

 

"Parents Stay Away From Campaign"

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (03/04/02); Hussain, Wasbir

 

In the Indian state of Assam, paramedics have launched a door-to-door campaign to vaccinate children against polio.  Many parents in the state have refused to have their children immunized during a recent World Health Organization vaccination effort because they were afraid of side effects.  Last year, residents of the state expressed similar fears during a UNICEF-sponsored anti-blindness campaign, which involved children being given vitamin A doses.  An Assam Health Ministry spokesman noted that for the polio campaign, the second phase of which was held on Sunday, only 47 percent of the targeted children showed up for the vaccine--which is why the door-to-door campaign was implemented soon after.

 

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.