Tamil Nadu is set to begin its annual Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign on Sunday, with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay scheduled to formally inaugurate the statewide initiative in Chennai. The campaign aims to vaccinate millions of children under five years of age as part of continued efforts to protect against poliomyelitis and maintain India’s polio-free status.
Chief Minister to Launch Campaign in Chennai
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will officially start the State’s Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign at the Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School campus in Palavakkam, Chennai.
During the inaugural event, children below the age of five will be administered oral polio vaccine drops. The launch reflects the State government’s continued focus on safeguarding young children from the highly infectious disease.
Statewide Drive Targets 52.91 Lakh Children
The immunisation programme is being conducted under the National Pulse Polio Programme, which provides free oral polio vaccination to every child under five years of age.
For this year’s campaign, the Tamil Nadu Health Department has set a target of reaching 52.91 lakh children across the State through a large-scale vaccination network operating during the one-day drive.
More Than 43,000 Vaccination Booths Established
To support the campaign, authorities have established 43,051 vaccination booths throughout Tamil Nadu.
These centres have been set up at:
- Government primary health centres
- Government hospitals
- Anganwadi centres
- Schools
- Bus terminals
- Railway stations
- Toll plazas
- Check posts
- Airports
- Other public gathering locations
Officials said the extensive network is intended to ensure that all eligible children can receive polio drops, including those travelling with their families on the day of the campaign.
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Special Measures for Remote Areas
Health authorities have also introduced dedicated arrangements to reach children living in difficult-to-access locations.
Mobile Teams Deployed Across Isolated Regions
Mobile medical teams have been assigned to visit hilly regions, isolated villages, and other remote areas where access to fixed vaccination centres may be limited.
The initiative is designed to ensure that children in these locations are not left out of the immunisation effort.
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Health Officials Urge Parents to Participate
Officials from the Health Department have appealed to parents and guardians to bring every child below five years of age to the nearest vaccination centre.
The appeal applies regardless of whether children have already received routine immunisation or previous doses of the oral polio vaccine.
According to medical experts, repeated doses play a crucial role in sustaining immunity and reducing the risk of the disease reappearing.
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Preparations Reviewed Ahead of Launch
Ahead of Sunday’s inauguration, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran conducted an inspection of the arrangements at the Palavakkam venue on Saturday.
During the visit, he assessed preparations undertaken by civic and health authorities to facilitate the smooth execution of both the launch event and the statewide immunisation campaign.
India’s Continued Effort to Remain Polio-Free
India achieved a major public health milestone when the World Health Organisation declared the country polio-free in 2014.
Annual Pulse Polio campaigns continue to be organised across the country to protect children and guard against the import or resurgence of the virus.
Conclusion
With a target of vaccinating 52.91 lakh children through 43,051 booths, Tamil Nadu’s Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign represents one of the State’s largest preventive healthcare initiatives. Led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, the drive aims to ensure that every eligible child receives protection against polio while supporting India’s ongoing commitment to preserving its polio-free status.
