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Sabah needs more than 100,000 polio vaccines to contain outbreak

SANDAKAN: Sabah needs more than 100,000 polio vaccines to prevent the spread of the virus.

State Health and People’s Wellbeing minister Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung said the relevant authorities were trying to obtain more vaccines to be given to unimmunised children in the future.

To date, the ministry has given the vaccine to about 10,000 children here, Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran.

Previously, Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said that the government was working with the United Nations, World Health Organisation and the Philippines government to get cheaper vaccines for mass inoculation of children aged five and below.

"We will also hold similar programmes in Papar and Kinabatangan. We will also do it in other districts.

"Polio vaccination is given in two rounds, the current programme is the first,” he told reporters after launching immunisation campaign against poliomyelitis at Kampung Bahagian in Batu Sapi here.

Present was state Health director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.

As for the three children infected with polio virus last month, Poon said all of them were still receiving treatment in the hospital.

On influenza A cases which were reported in the state, Poon said there was no need to close schools as the disease was seasonal.

He also advised people to take prophylaxis steps by wearing masks and taking care of personal hygiene.

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