The Anambra State Government has warned health institutions in the state to desist from charging money for the immunisation of children or face sanctions.

The warning came on the heels of reports that some private health institutions in the state were charging money for immunising children.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Awka on the planned second round of National Immunisation Plus Days in Awka, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, stressed that immunisation is free, saying that all the vaccines were donated free of charge by international donor agencies in partnership with the State Government.

The routine immunisation kicks off today in all public and private health institutions, schools, churches, motor parks, and other places where children could be found. It is targeted at over two million people, including pregnant and women of child bearing age.

According to the commissioner, the exercise is a strategy aimed at delivering oral polio vaccine together with other immunisation antigens and public health interventions.

He gave assurance that the vaccine would help reduce the burden of vaccine preventable diseases in a bid to sustain the eradication of polio in Anambra State.

•Photo shows a child being immunised against polio by Presient Muhammadu Buhari.