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![Quote. The trainer should request the participants to identify and list local influencers in the areas [such as] village pradhans, councilors, religious leaders, medical practitioners, moneylenders, anganwadi workers, grocery store owners, traditional birth attendants, local dias, prominent youth, popular teachers, etc. End Quote. Vaccinator Training Manual section on how to get support for National Immunization Days, India, 2001](images/quote_immun.gif)
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Nearly all of the vaccine used
in the global campaign is the oral live virus form associated with
Albert Sabin. The advantages of oral
polio vaccine
are that the drops are much cheaper than injected vaccine and do not
require highly trained medical personnel to administer every dose.
One doctor or nurse can supervise many volunteers, making it possible
to carry out massive vaccinations.
These countrywide campaigns are called National Immunization Days and
occur on two days about six weeks apart.
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Left: Vaccinator marking door with chalk Courtesy
of Jean-Marc Giboux, photographer
Right: Nurse’s bag used in Tunisia, 1969–70 Courtesy of
Roberta Poulton, RN
Left: Children with fingers marked with ink, Ethiopia
Courtesy of Jean-Marc Giboux, photographer
Right: Children with fingers marked with ink, Ethiopia Courtesy of Jean-Marc
Giboux, photographer
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During a National Immunization Day, vaccinators mark the left pinky
finger of every child with indelible ink, to keep track of who has received
the vaccine drops. In Brazil, an imaginary character, “Little Drop,” is
used to ease children’s fears about vaccination. |
Left: Caps, vest, armband worn by Rotary International
volunteers and silk banner used to advertise the coming National Immunization
Day Courtesy of Rotary International
Right: “Little Drop” characters used in Brazil to appeal to children
on vaccination days Courtesy of Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes do Ministerio da Saude
National Immunization Day parade, Nepal Courtesy
of Jean-Marc Giboux, photographer
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Medical Diplomacy
At times, National Immunization Days have occurred during civil wars, making
the vaccinators’ work dangerous. This happened in Peru, El Salvador,
and Angola. In each case, cease-fires, called Days of Tranquility,
were negotiated to allow the vaccinators safe passage. |
“On one occasion, one of
our epidemiologists who was leading a team of vaccinators was returning
from the field at the end of the day and was caught by a group of guerilla
fighters. Initially, he was terrified, but then he realized that they
wanted the team to return to a village that was left without vaccination.”
—Dr. Ciro de Quadros, on El Salvador’s
Days of Tranquility, 1997 |
Left: International polio campaign poster from Nigeria Courtesy
of Rotary International
Right: International polio campaign poster from India Courtesy of Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
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On a single day, January 21, 2001, 150 million children under five years of age in India were immunized. |
