GBA targets vaccination of over 11.34 lakh children during pulse polio drive

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has set a target of administering pulse polio drops to over 11.34 lakh children under the age of five during the National Pulse Polio Campaign scheduled from December 21 to 24, GBA Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao said on Monday. 

Chairing a virtual review meeting on the preparedness for the campaign, Mr. Rao directed officials across all five city corporations to take necessary steps to ensure 100% coverage. He emphasised the need for intensive awareness drives and instructed officials to deploy additional mobile vaccination teams in densely populated areas, including bus stands, markets, railway and metro stations, malls, major parks, tourist spots, slum areas, and other venues where people are expected in large numbers. 

The GBA Chief also called for the involvement of students from nursing, medical and paramedical colleges as volunteers to support the campaign. He said that apartment associations also had been contacted and urged to actively participate in ensuring that all eligible children are vaccinated.  

Chief Health Officer S.S. Madani said that pulse polio booths would function across the city on December 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by door-to-door vaccination from December 22 to 24. 

Over 11.34 lakh children are targeted for vaccination across the five corporations. The campaign will be carried out through 4,452 vaccination points, including 3,391 fixed booths.