I'll be travelling abroad soon and as most of us know, it is mandatory now to have a valid polio vaccination certificate with you. Few days ago [MENTION=39471]Blastwave[/MENTION] and I were discussing this and he told me that to make a thread when I get done with the vaccination, for general guidance and other inquiries.
Now I'll headline some general points that I think should be addressed and known about:
General Outline:
What does the certificate look like?
It depends on the province and from where you are getting it. But generally it is presented in this format.
I have a certificate so I still need to do this?
If it is in the correct current format - with valid date and details and is issued in accordance to WHO guidelines, you're good then. However, it is recommended that you re-validate your certificate under all conditions. Moreover, a fresh international certificate issued after the WHO guidelines is the safest bet out of all.
Where do you get the certificate(s) from?
So far according to my knowledge, you can have your certificates made and issued from:
- Town Hall
- Offices of EDOs Health Dept.
- Govt. Hospitals
- Airports (International Travel only - polio counters are set up inside and outside)
The procedure?
So I'm going to answer this from my own experience. I got my polio vaccination certificate done and issued from Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. It is a govt. hospital that has its polio counter set up inside Outdoor Ward.
Some very important points to remember:
- Take photocopies of your Passport and CNIC.
- Make sure you have a pen with you to fill out the form.
- Go as early as possible, since from my experience Jinnah Hospital closes its polio counter at 2 PM - so you have be there before this time.
- Make sure the form you get is readable and printed fine.
- The Polio Vaccination Certificate is valid for only 1 Year.
- Fill the form and follow the instructions from the officers.
General tips (from my own experience):
In order to receive a certificate form you must show them your photocopy of Passport. This is the general way of doing the procedure. The quicker method though is to go to the Photocopier in the hospital (For Jinnah Hospital in Lahore it is the Canteen area of the Outdoor ward) and ask if he has some copies of the form available. If there is, get it from there since you won't have to stand in a queue or wait for the form to be available on the counter. It's a fast track process so to speak, and I'm certain that it can be done in a similar manner in other hospitals.
Also make sure to have your Identity Card (NIC) with you since if required it helps with general identification.
I welcome all related suggestions, answers and questions from the PG community. I'd also request PG's Medical community to further assist in any way possible in regards to the procedure and general medical implications. Contribute as much as you can!
It is important that we know the correct details and are prepared for safe international travel. Here's to hoping that the problem of polio in Pakistan meets its end soon.
Now I'll headline some general points that I think should be addressed and known about:
General Outline:
These are the official guidelines:From June 1, all Pakistanis travelling abroad will be required to present a polio vaccination certificate at the time of departure. - WHO / National Authorities
States Currently Exporting Wild Poliovirus
Pakistan, Cameroon, and the Syrian Arab Republic pose the greatest risk of further wild
poliovirus exportations in 2014.
These States should:
- officially declare, if not already done, at the level of head of state or government, that
the interruption of poliovirus transmission is a national public health emergency;
- ensure that all residents and long-term visitors (i.e. > four weeks) receive a dose of
oral polio vaccine (OPV) or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) between four weeks
and 12 months prior to international travel;
- ensure that those undertaking urgent travel (i.e. within four weeks), who have not
received a dose of OPV or IPV in the previous four weeks to 12 months, receive a
dose of polio vaccine at least by the time of departure as this will still provide benefit,
particularly for frequent travellers;
- ensure that such travellers are provided with an International Certificate of
Vaccination or Prophylaxis in the form specified in Annex 6 of the International
Health Regulations (2005) to record their polio vaccination and serve as proof of
vaccination;
- maintain these measures until the following two criteria have been met: (i) at least six
months have passed without new exportations; and (ii) there is documentation of full
application of high quality eradication activities in all infected and high risk areas, in
the absence of such documentation these measures should be maintained until at least
12 months have passed without new exportations.
What does the certificate look like?
It depends on the province and from where you are getting it. But generally it is presented in this format.
I have a certificate so I still need to do this?
If it is in the correct current format - with valid date and details and is issued in accordance to WHO guidelines, you're good then. However, it is recommended that you re-validate your certificate under all conditions. Moreover, a fresh international certificate issued after the WHO guidelines is the safest bet out of all.
Where do you get the certificate(s) from?
So far according to my knowledge, you can have your certificates made and issued from:
- Town Hall
- Offices of EDOs Health Dept.
- Govt. Hospitals
- Airports (International Travel only - polio counters are set up inside and outside)
The procedure?
So I'm going to answer this from my own experience. I got my polio vaccination certificate done and issued from Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. It is a govt. hospital that has its polio counter set up inside Outdoor Ward.
Some very important points to remember:
- Take photocopies of your Passport and CNIC.
- Make sure you have a pen with you to fill out the form.
- Go as early as possible, since from my experience Jinnah Hospital closes its polio counter at 2 PM - so you have be there before this time.
- Make sure the form you get is readable and printed fine.
- The Polio Vaccination Certificate is valid for only 1 Year.
- Fill the form and follow the instructions from the officers.
General tips (from my own experience):
In order to receive a certificate form you must show them your photocopy of Passport. This is the general way of doing the procedure. The quicker method though is to go to the Photocopier in the hospital (For Jinnah Hospital in Lahore it is the Canteen area of the Outdoor ward) and ask if he has some copies of the form available. If there is, get it from there since you won't have to stand in a queue or wait for the form to be available on the counter. It's a fast track process so to speak, and I'm certain that it can be done in a similar manner in other hospitals.
Also make sure to have your Identity Card (NIC) with you since if required it helps with general identification.
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I welcome all related suggestions, answers and questions from the PG community. I'd also request PG's Medical community to further assist in any way possible in regards to the procedure and general medical implications. Contribute as much as you can!
It is important that we know the correct details and are prepared for safe international travel. Here's to hoping that the problem of polio in Pakistan meets its end soon.
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