Pulse Polio: 27 lakh children given vaccination

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 21. An estimated 27 lakh children under five years of age were administered oral dose of polio vaccines during the second phase of the nation-wide Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme on Sunday.

Around 23,000 booths had been set up and a specially trained work force of 50,000 geared up to undertake the massive exercise. According to an official press release, the campaign could target 27,73591 children below five years of age in the State.

In Malappuram district, where the wild polio virus had been isolated from a child, the vaccination covered 34,4135 children. The polio immunisation in Malappuram district and adjoining areas of Kozhikode, Wayanad, Palakkad and Thrissur districts would be continued for three more days, according to the Director of Health Services. This is to facilitate immunisation for children, who for some reason, could not be reached to the booths.

The booths were located at Government and private hospitals, Anganwadis, bus terminals and railway stations. Mobile booths had been pressed into service to cater to the population in interior areas.

The immunisation coverage for the State as a whole was put at 96.10 per cent. While four districts - Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki and Ernakulam - attained cent per cent coverage, Thiruvananthapuram reported 96 per cent, Kottayam 98 per cent, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad and Kollam 95 per cent and Palakkad 96 per cent and Thrissur 97 per cent. Malappuram recorded the least coverage of 90 per cent.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the Rotary Club of Kazhakoottam organised vaccination of over thousand children at 30 immunisation centres in the area.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : VS terms Mani's document a bail plea for BJP
Next     : Call for new development agenda