Polio Vaccination Mandatory for Children Under Five: Additional Deputy Commissioner Raju K

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Mangaluru : With the National Pulse Polio Vaccination Campaign scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 1, necessary measures must be implemented to ensure every child under the age of five in the district receives the polio vaccine. Presiding over a district-level steering committee meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday, Additional Deputy Commissioner Raju K directed all government departments to participate actively in this healthcare drive.

The ADC emphasized that all Anganwadi workers and supervisors must play a proactive role throughout the campaign. He stated that newborn babies at homes must be specifically identified to ensure they compulsorily receive the vaccine doses, adding that intensive awareness regarding the Pulse Polio drive should be raised during regular mothers’ meetings.

Furthermore, local gram panchayats have been tasked with publicizing the exact dates and locations of the vaccination booths within their limits. Schools are instructed to organize awareness rallies ahead of the immunization days to educate the public. Special care and priority must be given to locating and vaccinating children aged 0–5 years belonging to construction labourers, migratory workers, and those living in mining or transit areas.

Health department officials briefed the meeting that detailed arrangements have been finalized for the multi-day drive. The oral vaccine drops will be administered at designated polio booths on the first day, followed by door-to-door visits for the next two days in rural pockets and three days in urban areas. The district administration has set a comprehensive target to vaccinate 1,40,247 eligible children during this year’s campaign.

The high-level planning meeting saw the participation of several key medical and administrative figures, including Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Officer Dr. Rajesh, District Surveillance Officer Dr. Naveen Kulal, and Senior Medical Officer Dr. Harshit. Heads of various medical and nursing colleges, along with representatives from several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), were also present to coordinate the logistics for the upcoming health drive.