Polio Awareness Week takes place each year from August 6 to 12.
\nThe department recommends that children under the age of five be immunised against the most common childhood diseases.
\nIn 2006, the overall routine immunisation coverage for South Africa was less than 80 per cent and some districts still had less than 60 per cent immunisation coverage.
\nDangerous childhood diseases such as measles and polio, with potential fatal complications especially in small children, can be prevented most effectively.
\nImmunisations for vaccine preventable diseases are available free of charge at public health clinics.
\nThe last case of polio was reported in South Africa in 1989. But as long as there are still cases of wild poliovirus anywhere in the world, polio can easily be imported and spread within another polio free country if all children have not been fully vaccinated.
\nWatch the video below to see the lifecycle of the polio virus.<\/p>\n
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