The Andhra Pradesh government on Sunday carried out the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme across the state, administering oral polio vaccine drops to more than 54 lakh children below the age of five.
The drive was conducted in line with directions from the Centre to ensure complete immunisation coverage and sustain India’s polio-free status. According to an official release, vaccinations were administered at nearly 39,000 booths set up across Andhra Pradesh.
Commissioner of Medical, Health and Family Welfare G Veerapandian said that close to 99 lakh doses of the oral polio vaccine were supplied by the central government and distributed to all districts ahead of the campaign. Nodal officers were appointed in every district to oversee the programme and ensure its smooth implementation.
India was declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation in March 2014. However, authorities continue nationwide vaccination efforts due to the risk of the virus being imported from other countries, the release noted.
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Veerapandian said the last polio case in Andhra Pradesh was reported in July 2008 in the then undivided East Godavari district. Under the routine immunisation programme, children receive five doses of the oral polio vaccine, with an additional dose administered on Pulse Polio Day.
Booth-level vaccination teams comprised Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and staff nurses. To cover children who missed vaccination on Sunday, more than 76,000 teams will conduct door-to-door visits on December 22 and 23.
Mobile and transit teams were also deployed at bus stations, railway stations, airports, hospitals and other public places to ensure complete coverage.
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