Ludhiana prepares for massive polio vaccination campaign

Massive vaccination drive underway

The district is set to vaccinate nearly 4.9 lakh children as part of a coordinated pulse polio drive. Health officials have mobilised 1,535 house‑to‑house teams, 80 transit teams and 98 mobile units to reach children in urban neighbourhoods, villages and hard‑to‑reach pockets. Each team is tasked with administering oral polio drops to every child under five.

1,535 house‑to‑house teams, 80 transit teams and 98 mobile units deployed

Each team is tasked with administering oral polio drops to every child under five. A total of 506 supervisors will monitor field operations and ensure effective implementation of the campaign.

506 supervisors monitor field operations

Supervisors are tasked with verifying that each household receives the drops, checking the temperature logbooks, and reporting any irregularities to the district health office. They move between teams, ensuring that the cold chain remains unbroken and that no child is left out due to logistical hurdles.

Coverage spans urban, rural and hard‑to‑reach areas

The effort targets both densely populated areas of Ludhiana city and the surrounding rural blocks where access can be limited. By deploying mobile teams, officials aim to cover homes that are far from permanent health centres and to address the needs of seasonal populations.

National context and ongoing efforts

India has been polio‑free since 2014, but the disease remains a threat in neighbouring regions. The latest drive therefore reinforces the country’s commitment to prevent any resurgence, especially in high‑traffic border districts like Ludhiana. The drive forms part of the national pulse polio immunization schedule, a program coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and supported by WHO and UNICEF. It aims to maintain the country’s polio‑free status by reaching every child under five, regardless of geography.

Logistics and community support

The teams are equipped with insulated carriers to keep the vaccine at the required temperature, ensuring that potency is maintained from the health centre to the household. Local schools have been incorporated into the plan, with teachers distributing information leaflets to parents and encouraging them to bring their children to the nearest vaccination booth. Community leaders have also been briefed on the schedule, helping to identify households that may be difficult to reach on the designated days.

Health officials say the campaign will be monitored continuously, with daily reviews of coverage data to ensure that all targeted children receive the vaccine. Any gaps identified will be addressed through supplementary rounds, reinforcing the systematic approach that has kept India polio‑free for nearly a decade.

Source: Hindustan Times