YARPAH TOWN, River Cess – The River Cess County Health Team, Last Mile Health, and WHO joined the rest of the country to launch a new polio vaccine.

The Inactivated Polio Vaccine is the newest type of polio vaccine in the country and was launched on Monday, July 3 across Liberia.

In River Cess, the ceremony marking the launch was held at the Yarpah Town Market, where a cross section of citizens was in attendance.

The first dose of the vaccine was administered by River Cess County Inspector Trokon Browne, with the assistance of health practitioners.

Two types of vaccines protect against polio: oral poliovirus vaccine, which is common in Liberia, and the inactivated poliovirus vaccine, given as an injection in the leg or arm, depending on the patient’s age.

During the launch, several women who went to the market took their children for the vaccine for the first time.

Mothers bring their children to recieve the new polio vaccine. Photo: Eric Doue

Flomo Yorgie, the health promotion focal person of the River Cess County Health Team, told The Bush Chicken that the new vaccine is now available at the various health facilities in the county.

“All you need to do is to take your child’s vaccine card with you whenever you are going to the clinic,” Yorgie said.

Health authorities say children between the ages 14 weeks and nine months are eligible for the vaccine.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease which is caused by the poliovirus.

According to the World Health Organization, the virus spreads from person to person and can invade an infected person’s brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis.

Featured photo by Eric Doue