3-day polio vaccine drive from today

The State government has set up around 43,051 pulse polio booths in all government hospitals, urban PHCs, Integrated Child Development Scheme centres, government schools and noon meal centres.

Throughout TN, the vaccine will be administered from 7 am to 5 pm. As many as 2 lakh health department personnel and volunteers have been appointed to cover all households across TN. Around 7.86 lakh children were vaccinated under the drive last year and the government achieved the 100-percent target.

“We’ve stayed polio-free for 15 years and no cases have been reported since then. We are sure to maintain the polio-free status. Children vaccinated under routine immunisation schedule should also be given polio drops,” said Public Health Director Dr K Kolandaisamy. The State Health department officials said transit booths have been set up and over 1,000 mobile units have been allotted to vaccinate children in rural and remote areas. Over 1,500 transit booths have been set up for tourists and commuters at major bus stands, railway stations, toll plazas and airports.

The drive was earlier scheduled to be launched on February 3, but was postponed due to ‘unavoidable circumstances’, as per a release by the Centre. The State Health department cited administrative issues as the reason behind postponing the drive. However, several reports claiming a shortage of polio vaccines were denied by the Centre.