1.4 lakh children to receive polio drops on June 28

TIMES NEWS NETWORKMangaluru: The health department has set a target of administering polio drops to 1,40,677 children aged 0–5 years in Dakshina Kannada as part of the National Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme.Briefing media persons on Thursday, DHO Dr Thimmaiah HR said that the immunisation drive will be carried out between 8am and 5pm across the district on June 28. The health department will arrange 756 immunisation teams, including 727 fixed booths, 26 transit booths and three mobile units. Mobile units will operate in Mangaluru city. Meanwhile, 26 transit booths will be sent to bus stands, railway stations, Mangaluru International Airport and temples.

A total of 30,741 children in Mangaluru City Corporation limits will be administered polio drops, he said.The DHO appealed that parents should compulsorily bring their children in the age group to the nearest immunisation centre. “Polio can be prevented completely only if all children are administered two drops of vaccine. India reported its last polio case on January 13, 2011. In Karnataka, the last polio case was reported in 2007. The nation was excluded from the polio-affected nations’ list on March 27, 2014. Though our nation is free from polio, we need to immunise all children since cases are being reported in neighbouring countries,” he said.