LARKANA- The Health Department has authorized all the Medical Superintendents of all the hospitals in the province, District Health Officers, Executive District Officers, all Town Health Officers of Karachi and the Project Director, EPI, throughout Sindh to issue polio vaccination certificate for international travelers.
In a letter signed by Dr Saqib Ali Shaikh, Section Officer-IV (PH), addressed to all these officers, it is said that this certificate would be issued free of cost and not below an officer of BS-19 and copy of the international polio vaccination certificate would also been attached.
The letter further added that WHO has temporarily recommended to impose travel restrictions on travelers from Pakistan. According to the WHO statement, all residents and long-term visitors shall receive a dose of oral polio vaccine or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) between four weeks and twelve months prior to international travel from Pakistan. It further said that those undertaking urgent travels like within four weeks shall receive a dose of polio vaccine at the time of departure for international travel. These travel restrictions are initially for six months.  All persons leaving from Pakistan regardless of their citizenship or age shall be administered polio vaccine, the letter added.Copies of this letter have been sent to the Director General Health Services Sindh, Hyderabad, WHO Medical Officer, National Program Manager, Federal EPI Cell, NIH Islamabad.