Pulse polio drive crosses 95% target across Chittoor, Annamayya, and Sri Sathya Sai districts

The national pulse polio immunisation drive received an overwhelming response, with over 95% of the target being reached across Chittoor, Annamayya, and Sri Sathya Sai districts on Sunday.

Officials of the Medical and Health department, along with the supportive wings, had set up vaccination booths at government hospitals, primary health centres, anganwadi centres, bus stands, railway stations, and other key public locations to administer oral polio vaccine to children below the age of five years.

In Chittoor, District Collector Sumit Kumar formally launched the immunisation drive at the Urban Primary Health Centre in Telephone Colony near Darga Circle. The Collector appealed to the parents to ensure that every child receives the vaccine and directed Health officials to achieve 100% coverage through intensive follow-up for the next two days.

The authorities monitored the campaign throughout the day, while the workforce of the ANMs, Asha workers, anganwadi workers, and volunteers coordinated immunisation activities. The officials laid special focus on covering children from migrant families, remote habitations, and other vulnerable pockets to ensure that no child was missed.

The campaign assumed significance in the predominantly rural districts where sustained community outreach is essential to maintain high immunisation coverage. House-to-house verification and mop-up visits will continue on June 29 (Monday) and June 30 (Tuesday) to vaccinate children who could not be reached on the booth day, the officials said.