Statewide Pulse Polio Immunisation Drive to Commence on March 3, Inaugurated by Minister Veena George

Kerala gears up for the pulse polio immunisation drive scheduled for March 3, with Minister Veena George inaugurating the statewide initiative. The government aims to provide the polio vaccine to approximately 23,28,258 children under the age of five through designated vaccine booths, totaling 23,471, including transit and mobile booths. Specialised training has been provided to 46,942 volunteers and 1564 supervisors participating in the immunisation drive. Post the drive on March 3, volunteers will conduct home visits on March 4 and 5 to ensure all eligible children have received the polio vaccine. Parents are urged to actively participate in this mega polio immunisation initiative by bringing their children to the nearest vaccine booth.

Although Kerala has been polio-free since 2000, and India officially declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2014, the immunisation drive persists due to the ongoing prevalence of the disease in neighbouring countries. Operating from 8 am to 5 pm on March 3, vaccine booths will be set up at schools, anganwadis, libraries, and health centres, as well as transit booths at bus stands, railway stations, airports, and mobile booths at migrant labourer camps and tourism spots. The pulse polio immunisation program is a collaborative effort involving local self-government, various government departments, and non-governmental organisations.