Vaccination – Andhra Pradesh Expands Pulse Polio Campaign to Protect Young Children
Vaccination – The Andhra Pradesh government has intensified its statewide Pulse Polio campaign to ensure every eligible child receives life-saving protection against polio.
The Andhra Pradesh government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding children’s health by giving top priority to the Pulse Polio immunization campaign. The large-scale vaccination drive aims to protect children below the age of five from polio while strengthening efforts to maintain the state’s polio-free status. Ministers, health officials, and frontline workers participated in the campaign, encouraging parents to ensure that no eligible child is left without the essential vaccine.
Statewide Campaign Launched in Vijayawada
The campaign officially began in Vijayawada’s Madhura Nagar, where Welfare Minister S. Savitha, accompanied by Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, administered oral polio vaccine drops to young children. Addressing parents and local residents, the minister described polio eradication as a shared responsibility that requires active public participation. She appealed to every family with children under five years of age to make sure they receive the mandatory two drops during the campaign.
Savitha stated that the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, is implementing the programme across Andhra Pradesh in line with the national objective of ensuring better healthcare for children. She noted that consistent immunization remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the disease from returning.
Vaccination Drive Reaches Every Corner
The government has allocated approximately Rs 6.50 crore for the Pulse Polio programme this year. Vaccination centres have been established through village and ward secretariats, Anganwadi centres, bus terminals, railway stations, and mobile vaccination units to maximize coverage.
Health authorities have appealed to the public to cooperate with vaccination teams so that every eligible child can be reached without delay. MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao said eliminating polio continues to be an important public health objective, adding that awareness programmes are being conducted to educate parents about the importance of timely immunization.
Special Focus on Prakasam District
In Prakasam district, Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy inaugurated the vaccination programme at the Anganwadi centre in Thurpu Naidupalem of Tanguturu mandal. During the event, he personally administered polio drops to infants and emphasized that every child should receive the vaccine to ensure complete protection against the disease.
District Medical and Health Officer Dr. Venkateswarlu also attended the programme. According to officials, 1,56,477 children in Prakasam district are eligible for vaccination, while the statewide target covers nearly 49.20 lakh children below five years of age.
Door-to-Door Follow-Up Planned
The minister highlighted that India’s long-running Pulse Polio programme has played a crucial role in eliminating the disease and urged parents to continue supporting vaccination efforts. He instructed Anganwadi workers and ASHA health workers to create greater awareness, particularly in rural communities, and ensure every eligible child receives the vaccine.
To prevent any child from being missed, health teams will conduct door-to-door visits over the next two days for children who could not attend the vaccination booths on the opening day. Officials believe this follow-up exercise will help achieve complete immunization coverage and further strengthen the state’s commitment to protecting children’s health.