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November 1, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Five Million Iraqi Children Vaccinated Against Polio"

Agence France Presse (www.afp.com/english/home) (10/31/02)

As part of a national polio eradication campaign in Iraq, over 5 million children have received vaccinations during the last five days, with help from over 750 volunteers from the Iraqi Red Crescent organization.  The campaign--a joint effort of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Iraqi Red Crescent--included volunteers making home visits to ensure that all children under the age of five years receive the oral polio vaccine.  The eradication effort in Iraq was officially stepped up in 2000, after 77 cases of polio were reported the previous year.  It is expected that Iraq will be certified polio-free by 2004, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said Thursday.

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