New Delhi, Dec 10: Indian and international experts
will review polio situation in the country and thrash out
future strategies to eliminate the virus that has affected
583 children this year.
India Experts Advisory Group (IEAG) on polio, in a
two-day meeting here from tomorrow, will also decide whether
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) should be used in future polio
vaccination programme or not.
"We will review the current epidemiological situation and
will also plan future strategies to control polio from the
country," an officer of the national polio programme told a news agency
today.
He said apart from experts from WHO and UNICEF, health
secretaries and senior officers from polio-affected states
will be part of the meeting.
"This is the second meeting this year on polio. We had
earlier met on may this year," he said.
The officer said they will also discuss the use of
injectibles for future use.
"The use of injectibles means we need that many health
workers and infrastructure. Also, they are helpful only for
individual immunity and will not have any effect in
eliminating the virus from the country," he said.
He said that at the meeting it will be also decided that
if IPV is being used, which area to target and when.
"We have to try it first in those districts which are
worst-affected," he added.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, December 10, 2006, 00:00