PULSE POLIO IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM

The Pulse Polio Immunization Program was started in 1995 to eradicate polio. Under this program, all children below the age of 5 years are administered two doses of the oral polio vaccine per year. The oral polio vaccine is administered in the program, since it not only protects the child, but also gets disseminated to the community, thus resulting in widespread protection. The government of India with a vision of eradicating poliomyelitis or polio from the country had initiated an immunization campaign during the period 1995-96. By this, it was intended to vaccinate all children under the age of 5yrs. This program has been receiving support of various international institutions, state governments and NGOs.

Pulse polio campaign in India a success

It is evident that the World Health Organization (WHO) had removed India from the list of polio-endemic countries. If no fresh case is reported till 2014, the country will be declared polio free, officially. So far, for last four years not even a single case of polio has been reported in India, thereby virtually making India polio free. It’s only the official announcement that is awaited.