Polio immunisation drive to be held on March 10

Pune: District Collector Naval Kishore Ram on Tuesday said there is need to clear the misconception that there is no need for polio immunisation in India.
 
“Although India has been declared free of polio and there are no cases of polio reported since 2011, we should not assume that we can do away with polio immunisation,” added Ram, who was addressing a press conference on polio immunisation drive to be held in Pune district on March 10. 

He said they expect to vaccinate 12,41,105 children who are below the age of five years in the district. 

“Around 7,126 booths would be set under the supervision of 1,444 officials. Around 487 medical officers  and 18,071 paramedical staff, anganwadi workers and others will be involved in the campaign from March 10,” added Ram.

Speaking about the drive, District Health Officer Dilip Mane said while on March 10 there will be a massive drive, the door-to-door drive for immunisation programme will be held from March 12, for next three days in rural areas and five days in urban areas. “We have 498 mobile teams, 663 transit teams deployed on railways and bus stands. Our teams will also be placed at religious places, hospitals and other areas of high footfall,” added Mane.

Mane said while no polio case has been reported since 2011, polio cases have been reported in neighbouring countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan and so the drive in India will continue.
About the publicity of the drive, Ram said posters and banners have been designed. “The Health Department will be writing to multiplexes to create awareness on their screens,” added Ram.