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Sometimes, parents are reluctant to allow their children to be immunized. The
reluctance stems from a number of reasons, including: a general marginalization
of a given population, a lack of access to other health services, and false
rumours that the polio vaccine may not be safe.
Strong strides have been made in overcoming resistance and re-assuring families
who may have concerns about the importance of polio immunizations. In
particular, individuals or groups who may have an influence over a local
population are engaged to help overcome resistance. Such individuals may include
local influencers, community leaders, religious leaders or indeed religious
institutions. Statements by religious leaders are printed and distributed to
concerned parents, and 'special' vaccination teams, consisting of local
influencers, tend to visit the homes of any parents who might have particular
concerns.
Thanks to such efforts at re-assuring communities on the importance of polio
eradication, the uptake of polio vaccine over the past two years has increased
dramatically. For example, in 2002, data suggests that as many as 33% of
children remained under or un-immunized. By 2004, this figure had been reduced
to 4%.
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