Pulse Polio drive will be held tomorrow

The bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) drive, as part of National Immunisation Day, would be administered to children below five years on Sunday.

According to health officials, intensification and strengthening of routine immunisation were essential to maintain high population immunity which in turn was vital for the State to remain polio free. As part of the drive, municipal and health officials aim to cover 41,57,210 children below five years in the State.

To undertake the massive administration exercise, the health and municipal officials have set up 24,570 polio booths,



773 mobile teams and roped-in 2,455 route supervisors, 8,700 ANM workers and 27,045 ASHA workers.According to officials, close to 50 lakh bOPV vaccines doses have been supplied to the pulse polio drive. Special emphasis would be given to cover children of nomadic families, migrant, brick kiln workers, families employed at construction sites, fishermen and tribal families.

To mop-up those who miss out on Sunday, the authorities have planned a door-to-door bOPV administration drive from January 30 to February 4. The second National Immunisation Day will be held on April 2.