Himachal Pradesh News
Shimla News : Over 57,000 children to receive polio drops in Shimla on December 21
Shimla district will administer polio drops to over 57,000 children on December 21 as part of a campaign to sustain India’s polio-free status, officials said.
As many as 57,010 children aged between 0 and 5 years will be administered oral polio vaccine in Shimla district on December 21 as part of the nationwide pulse polio campaign.
Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap stated this while chairing a meeting of the District Immunisation Task Force here on Thursday. He said the primary objective of the campaign was to sustain India’s polio-free status. “Each child in the target age group will be given two drops of oral polio vaccine. The campaign will be conducted over three to four days,” he added.
Polio has no cure and vaccination remains the only effective means of prevention. The last polio case in Himachal Pradesh was reported in Solan district on October 17, 2009, and no case has been recorded in the state since then. However, Kashyap cautioned that polio cases continue to be reported in neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance.
On December 21, vaccination will be carried out at designated booths and health centres across the district. A mop-up round will be conducted from December 22 to 24, during which health workers will go door-to-door to vaccinate children who may have been missed during the booth phase.
To strengthen coverage, a special vaccination booth will be set up at the entry points of Shimla district. Local artists will also be roped in to spread awareness about the campaign. The Deputy Commissioner issued strict instructions to ensure that no child is left out, with special focus on slums, construction sites and bus stands.
The District Immunisation Task Force will set up a total of 743 booths across the district. These include 71 booths in Chirgaon, 74 in Kotkhai, 42 in Kumarsain, 138 in Mashobra, 72 in Matiyana, 33 in Nankhari, 119 in Nerwa, 68 in Rampur, 37 in Sunni, 66 in Tikkar and 43 in Shimla (Urban).
Kashyap also said a special awareness campaign would be launched in schools from the next academic session to educate students about communicable diseases.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Yashwant Ranta, Dr Vineet Lakhanpal and other senior officials were present at the meeting.
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