Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, will kick off the State’s yearly Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign on Sunday to protect children from poliomyelitis and uphold India’s polio-free status. The campaign will commence at the Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School campus in Palavakkam, Chennai, where children under five will be given the oral polio vaccine.
This initiative is part of the National Pulse Polio Programme, ensuring that all children under five receive free polio drops to maintain immunity against the disease. The Health Department aims to vaccinate 52.91 lakh children across Tamil Nadu during the one-day campaign.
To achieve this, 43,051 vaccination booths have been set up at various locations like health centers, hospitals, schools, and public areas. The goal is to reach every eligible child, even those in remote regions, through mobile medical teams and fixed immunisation booths.
Health officials urge parents to bring children under five for vaccination, emphasizing the importance of repeated doses in preventing the disease’s resurgence. Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran inspected the preparations at the venue to ensure a successful launch and statewide immunisation drive.
India was declared polio-free in 2014, but these campaigns are crucial to safeguard children and prevent the virus from returning.
