Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 16: In a colossal efforts to safeguard India’s polio-free status, the Health Department has established more than 5,000 polio vaccination booths across Jammu and Kashmir set to target 11 lakh children below the age of five during the Pulse Polio Immunisation Drive scheduled for December 21, 2025.
Urging parents and caregivers to bring their children to the nearest booth on the mentioned date, the health officials double up their resolve that no child misses the life-saving polio drops, administered under the campaign slogan ‘Do Boond Zindagi Ki”.
While talking to reporters, Assistant Director Family Welfare, Dr Mohammad Ramzan Mir, said, “despite India remaining polio-free for over a decade, constant vigilance is essential.”
Though India has not reported a single case of polio since 2011, but the threat still persists due to the continued presence of the virus in neighbouring countries, he reiterated.
According to Dr Mir, Polio cases were reported in Pakistan in September and Afghanistan in October this year, which is a cause of concern.
Sharing his views about close proximity of Jammu and Kashmir with other regions, Dr Mir stated, ‘as such it becomes crucial to maintain high immunisation coverage to prevent any possible re-entry of the virus’.
Disease surveillance mechanism, alongside the vaccination, is also being accelerated.
“We are closely monitoring through stool sample testing to detect any early signs of polio virus circulation. Surveillance plays an equally important role in keeping polio under control,” he said.
Underscoring the strength of the surveillance network in the Union Territory, Dr Mir said the Non-Polio Acute Flaccid Paralysis (Non-Polio AFP) rate which is the key indicator of surveillance sensitivity should be above two per 100,000 children under 15 years.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, the Non-Polio AFP rate is 12, the highest in the country. This shows the effectiveness of our surveillance system in promptly identifying and investigating suspected cases,” he remarked.
Measures like house-to-house teams visits for families to vaccinate children who may miss the booth-based drive have been put in place wherein mobile teams have been deployed in remote and difficult-to-reach areas to ensure full coverage.
Health officials reiterated that polio drops are safe, free, and necessary even for children who have already received previous doses.
“Repeated doses help strengthen immunity and are required until polio is eradicated totally.” Dr Mir said.
The Health Department has also appealed to community leaders, teachers, religious institutions and civil society groups to actively support the drive and spread awareness in order to ensure that every child below five years receives polio drops on December 21 to keep Jammu and Kashmir and India polio-free. (KNO)
