Pulse polio programme to cover 91 lakh kids in Telugu states

A pulse polio programme began in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday to cover 91 lakh children below five years. Children of 0-5 years were administered the drops at thousands of booths set up in all 33 districts of Telangana and 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The programme was launched by Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender in Hyderabad, while it was rolled out in Andhra Pradesh by Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan and Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

Health authorities in both the states made elaborate arrangements for the programme at pulse polio booths and transit points. They also took all precautionary measures in view of Covid-19 pandemic. The vaccinators would be provided surgical masks, hand sanitisers and disposable gloves at all pulse polio booths. On Monday and Tuesday, the health workers will go door to door to immunise the children who miss the drops. In Hyderabad, the programme would continue till Wednesday.

Officials said special emphasis was being laid on immunising children of high-risk groups such as nomads, migrants, urban slum dwellers and brick kiln workers. In Telangana, a total of 38,31,907 children in the 0-5 years age group are targeted to be covered during the pulse polio programme. Health Minister Eatala Rajender, who administered the drops at Shameerpet, said 23,331 polio booths were set up while 877 mobile teams were also pressed into service.

Around 50.14 lakh doses of bOPV vaccine doses have been supplied to districts. In Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan launched the pulse polio immunisation programme by administering polio drops to children aged below five years at Raj Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, he said the campaign has been launched with an aim to eliminate poliomyelitis (polio) in the country by vaccinating all children under the age of five years.