Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched a special pulse polio immunisation programme Sunday at a government school in Chennai [1, 2].
The initiative aims to strengthen routine immunisation and protect the state's youngest residents against polio [3, 4]. Ensuring high coverage in these drives is critical for maintaining polio-free status and preventing the re-emergence of the virus in the region.
The vaccination campaign targets children under five years of age [1]. According to state reports, the drive is expected to cover approximately 53 lakh children [1, 2]. While some reports indicate the target is more than 52 lakh children, the higher estimate of 53 lakh remains the primary figure for the state-wide effort [1, 5].
The launch event took place at a government school in Chennai, where the chief minister signaled the start of the state-wide rollout [2, 3]. This pulse polio drive is designed to reach children across all districts of Tamil Nadu, utilizing both fixed centers and mobile teams to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Public health officials said the programme is part of a broader strategy to ensure no child is left unvaccinated. By focusing on the under-five demographic, the state intends to close any gaps in the routine immunization schedule that may have occurred during previous cycles [4].
“The vaccination campaign targets children under five years of age.”
This drive represents a critical effort by the Tamil Nadu government to maintain herd immunity against poliomyelitis. By targeting 5.3 million children, the state is attempting to eliminate potential pockets of susceptibility that could allow the virus to reappear, reinforcing the national goal of total eradication.
