MORE than 846,733 children in Mwanza region are expected to be vaccinated against polio.

The statement was made on Thursday by the Mwanza Regional Medical Officer(RMO), Dr Thomas Rutachunzibwa, during the launch of the polio vaccine at Nakatunguru Health centre in Ukerewedistrict.

Dr Rutachunzibwa said the three-day exercise started and will be completed tomorrow.

"We have planned to provide the vaccine at 355 centreswhere a total of 6,909 officials have been trained to provide the service," DrRutachunzibwa said.

He said in Ukerewe district there are 108,937 children under the age of 5 years who will all be vaccinated against the Polio vaccine.

"So far we have distributed 973,740 vaccines in all facilities and this vaccine is provided free of charge," said DrRutachunzibwa.

He said there will be 23003 observers and 23003 statisticians.

He said the polio is spread when the stool of an infected person is enters the mouth of another person through contaminated water or food (fecal-oral transmission). Fecal–oral route transmission by way of an infected person’s saliva may account for some cases.

“The polio virus is transmitted from person to person mainly through oral route and through contaminated water or food,” He said.

MwanzaRegional Commissioner (RC), Engineer Robert Gabriel said parents should show co-operation to immunization providers so that children under the age of 5 years can get the vaccine.

He said there will be 223 small vaccination centres established in market areas, churches and bus stands.

He said inUkerewe district, a total of 122,000 doses of polio vaccine have been received and equipment related to the vaccination exercise has been received and distributed in all 38 service delivery centers.