At least 13,000 parents deny administering anti-polio drops to their children in Punjab

LAHORE: Following the polio drama in Peshawar, more than 13,000 parents have denied administering anti-polio drops to their children in the drive against this crippling disease, in Punjab, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

According to Coordinator Emergency Centres for Polio Elevation Program Salman Ghani, the anti-polio drive has suffered serious blow in the province as thousands of parents have refused administering anti-polio drops to their children across Punjab, in the wake of Peshawar Polio drama.

Peshawar was gripped in panic Monday morning as rumours spread like a wildfire that the anti-polio vaccine had caused children to fall ill and faint in several areas of the city.

On the first day of the campaign 13million children were administered anti-polio drops, while several refrain and denied the teams following the rumours of Peshawar.

Detailing the number of the parents who denied vaccinating their children during anti-polio campaign city wise, Salman Ghani said 5,600 parents said “no” to polio teams in Rawalpindi.

In Lahore and Attock, 600 and 500 parents refused to anti-polio teams, who visited them for administering anti-polio drops to their children.

“The children who were left in the campaign, will be administered anti-polio drops in next phase”, Ghani said and urged parents not to take romours seriously and get their children administered anti-polio drops to save them from the crippling disease of polio.