SWABI: Around 31,000 vaccination refusal cases were reported in Swabi district during the anti-polio campaign, said district health officer Dr Niaz Mohammad on Thursday.

He, however, told Dawn that of those unvaccinated children, around 9,000 were given anti-polio drops afterward, while the rest would be covered within the next two days.

The DHO said around 1,400 vaccination refusal cases were reported in the last campaign but the administration ensured the vaccination of most of them after convincing their parents about its importance and safety bringing the tally to around 120, which, too, were covered later on.

He said vaccination refusal cases were reported in private schools as well but they’re minimised after the deputy commissioner met school heads and their association leaders.

Dr Niaz said religious scholars had been engaged at union council level with the hope that the initiative would effectively address the issue.

He said the alleged adverse reaction to vaccination made the people turn health workers away.

The DHO said the four-day anti-polio campaign targeted 285,000 children, including Afghans, in the district.

He said around 900 teams were formed to vaccinate children, while policemen were deployed for their security.

Meanwhile, MPA Rangaiz Khan, Swabi deputy commissioner Salman Lodhi, Topi tehsil nazim Sohail Yousafzai, Chota Lahor nazim Sohail Khan, district police officer Syed Khalid Hamdani and other officials visited different areas, monitored the anti-polio campaign and advocated vaccination declaring the vaccine safe.

KILLED: Celebratory fire killed a man during a marriage ceremony in Amrai Bala village of Gadoon Amazai area here on Thursday.

Also, three people suffered serious injuries when the motorcycles they rode collided in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate here on Thursday due to speeding.

They were taken to the tehsil headquarters hospital.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2019