National Polio Vaccine Day, also known as 'Polio Ravivar', is observed on Sunday (January 31) nationwide. President Ram Nath Kovind had recently launched the Pulse Polio Program 2021 by giving polio drops to children under the age of five at Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi.
The nationwide vaccination program for polio was originally scheduled to start on January 17, however, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 vaccination campaign, which began on January 16.The three-day polio immunization campaign will run until 2 February. The polio vaccination program is planned twice a year.
In a statement, the Department of Health said President Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind provided polio to children on the eve of National Immunization Day. At least 17 crore children under the age of 5 will be given polio drops as part of the Indian Government's campaign to keep the state free of polio. The national campaign will be supported by about 24 lakh volunteers, 1.5 lakh administrators and many Civil Society (CSOs), WHO, UNICEF, Rotary etc. organizations.
Health care workers will visit 2 crore homes to ensure no child is left without polio vaccine protection, the statement said. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan also attended the event. He highlighted mitigation measures and efforts to strength the immune system of the children by the government.
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