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Karnataka Gears Up for Massive Pulse Polio Drive
17 Dec
Summary
- Over 62.4 lakh children aged 0-5 years to receive polio vaccine.
- Campaign aims to sustain India's polio-free status amid global risks.
- 33,258 booths and 1,030 mobile teams deployed for the drive.
Karnataka is preparing for a large-scale Pulse Polio immunisation campaign on December 21, targeting over 62.4 lakh children in the 0-5 age group. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced the initiative, highlighting its importance in sustaining India's polio-free status. The drive is a precautionary measure due to ongoing polio cases in neighboring countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, posing an importation risk.
The campaign will utilize bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) at 33,258 booths, with subsequent door-to-door visits planned over three days. Health officials stress that all children below five years must receive two polio drops, even if they have been vaccinated before. Special attention will be given to high-risk and remote locations.
This extensive effort involves 1,030 mobile teams and 2,096 transit teams, supported by over 1.13 lakh vaccinators and 7,300 supervisors. The program is a collaborative effort with various government departments and international organizations, including WHO and UNICEF, to ensure comprehensive coverage and public cooperation.
