Pulse Polio Vaccine 2024: Immunization Campaign, Date and Booths

Pulse Polio Vaccine 2024:

India has decided to drive the Pulse Polio Immunization programme to administer polio vaccine to children below the age of 5 and will be conducted on March 3 2024, Sunday nationwide in all districts on Polio Day. Preparations for the polio immunization drive are in full swings. Numerous polio booths  are established by the health authorities in various states like Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and Gurgaon by the respective Health authorities in these states. Also, the authorities are conducting a volunteer training programme for administering the polio vaccine to children.

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During the initial day, children up to 5 years old can be taken to booths, where they will receive two drops of oral polio vaccine.. The booths will be open from 7am and 5pm. Whereas, for the next two days, i.e, March 4 and 5, health teams will visit every household and vaccinate children.

Pulse Polio immunization program was initiated in India in 1995 as part of the Universal Immunization Program, striving for complete coverage, aligning with the World Health Organization’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative. India marked 12 years of being polio-free on January 13, 2023.

What is Polio Virus?

Polio, short for poliomyelitis,  is caused by the poliovirus that primarily affects children under age of 5. It is highly contagious viral infection that mainly spreads through contaminated water or food or contact with the infected person.  Initial signs of polio include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. In severe cases, muscle weakness or paralysis occurs, particularly in the legs and in some cases also leads to death.. Early vaccination is crucial in preventing this disease and ensuring a polio-free future.