AP achieves 91.95% polio vaccine coverage

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh achieved 91.95% coverage on the National Immunisation Day as 45.24 lakh children below five years received Pulse Polio drops on Sunday, health minister Satya Kumar Yadav said.According to the health department, the state has an estimated 49.20 lakh children in the 0-5 age group.

While 45,24,116 children were administered the vaccine on Sunday, the remaining beneficiaries will be covered through a door-to-door campaign on Monday and Tuesday.Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched the programme at the CM’s camp office in Undavalli, while the health minister administered polio drops to children at an event in Visakhapatnam.The minister said extensive preparations, including review meetings by the health department, helped ensure the smooth conduct of the statewide campaign.

Chief secretary S Suresh Kumar and health, medical and family welfare commissioner Chakradhar Babu monitored arrangements across districts.NTR district recorded the highest coverage at 115.16%, followed by Markapuram (113.21%) and Krishna (104.29%). Palnadu registered 98.06% coverage, while Anakapalli reported 97.93%.The lowest coverage was reported from Kurnool (73.58%), Annamayya (79.90%) and Nandyal (80.91%).

Officials attributed figures exceeding 100% in some districts to children from neighbouring areas receiving vaccination there.Secondary Health director KVN Chakradhar Babu said nearly 1.31 lakh personnel were deployed for the drive. The department set up 29,873 Pulse Polio booths, supported by 1,757 mobile teams and 1,144 transit booths across the state. A total of 68.68 lakh vaccine doses supplied by the Centre were distributed to districts for the campaign.