Polio Campaign – Tamil Nadu Begins Statewide Immunisation Drive for Young Children
Polio Campaign – Child Health Protection and Polio Prevention Initiative – Tamil Nadu is set to launch its annual Pulse Polio immunization campaign on Sunday, reinforcing efforts to keep every child under five protected against poliomyelitis and preserve India’s polio-free status.
Tamil Nadu will begin its annual Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign on Sunday with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay officially launching the programme in Chennai. The campaign reflects the State government’s continued focus on protecting children from poliomyelitis through widespread vaccination while supporting India’s long-standing achievement of remaining free from the disease.
Campaign to Begin in Chennai
The inaugural event will take place at the Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School campus in Palavakkam, where the Chief Minister will administer the first oral polio vaccine doses to children below the age of five. The initiative forms part of the National Pulse Polio Programme, under which eligible children receive free oral polio drops to strengthen immunity against the highly contagious virus.
State Sets Vaccination Target
The Tamil Nadu Health Department has planned an extensive one-day vaccination drive with the objective of immunising nearly 52.91 lakh children across the State. Health authorities have prepared a large network of vaccination centres to ensure easy access for families and maximise participation in the campaign.
Officials have established 43,051 vaccination booths at government primary health centres, government hospitals, Anganwadi centres, educational institutions, bus stands, railway stations, airports, toll plazas, check posts and several other public locations where people are expected to gather in significant numbers.
Special Focus on Remote Areas
The campaign has been designed to reach every eligible child, including those travelling with their families on the day of the drive. To ensure no child is left behind, dedicated mobile medical teams have been assigned to visit difficult-to-reach locations, including remote villages and hilly regions where permanent vaccination centres may not be easily accessible.
These outreach teams will administer oral polio drops directly to children living in isolated communities, helping maintain comprehensive immunisation coverage throughout the State.
Health Department Appeals to Parents
Health officials have urged parents and guardians to bring all children below five years of age to the nearest vaccination centre, even if the child has already received routine immunisation or previous doses during earlier Pulse Polio campaigns.
Medical professionals have reiterated that repeated doses of the oral vaccine remain an important part of the immunisation strategy. They help reinforce immunity and reduce the possibility of the virus reappearing in the community, making continued participation in every campaign essential.
Preparations Reviewed Before Launch
Ahead of Sunday’s programme, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran inspected the arrangements at the Palavakkam venue. During the visit, he reviewed the preparations made by civic authorities and healthcare teams to ensure the inauguration and the statewide campaign proceed smoothly without operational difficulties.
Officials have coordinated logistics, staffing and vaccine distribution to support the large-scale exercise across thousands of vaccination points.
Continued Vigilance Against Polio
India was officially declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2014. Despite that milestone, annual Pulse Polio campaigns continue to play a vital role in safeguarding children by maintaining high immunity levels and preventing the possible re-entry or spread of the poliovirus through imported cases.
The upcoming campaign reflects Tamil Nadu’s commitment to sustaining these public health efforts and ensuring every eligible child receives the protection needed to keep the State and the country free from polio.