Question

Briefly explain Pulse Polio Immunization Programme.

Answer 1

Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was launched to immunize the children in order to achieve hundred per cent coverage under Oral Polio Vaccine.

Complete answer:
Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was launched in Indian in 1995 in order to eradicate polio disease from the world. This involves a high risk population i.e., children in the age group of 0-5 years were administered polio drops on a single day throughout the nation.
In this programme, children are provided with 2 doses of vaccine 4-6 weeks apart. There are around 17.4 crore children of less than five years of age across the country who all are provided with polio drops as a part of the drive of the Government of India in order to eradicate polio from the country.
Objective:
This programme initiative started with an objective and that objective is to achieve hundred per cent coverage under Oral Polio Vaccine. This programme aims to immunize the children through improved social mobilization in those areas where this virus has almost disappeared.
Step taken by the Government in order to maintain polio free status in India:
There is development of Rapid Response Team (RRT) by all the States and Union Territories in the country to respond to any outbreak in the country.
There is development of EPRP i.e., Emergency Preparedness and Response too by all the states indicating steps to be undertaken in case of detection of a polio case.
There is an extremely high level of vigilance through surveillance which is across the country for any circulation of poliovirus and there is also environmental surveillance established to detect poliovirus transmission.
In order to reduce risk of importation from neighboring countries, there are international border vaccinations which are being provided through continuous vaccination teams (CVT) to all eligible children.
Guidelines have been issued for the mandatory requirement of polio vaccination to all the international travelers before their departure from India to polio affected countries, for example, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, etc.

Note: This programme was launched with an objective which is to eradicate the polio disease from the world. There were many steps taken to ensure polio free status in India which includes the development of RRT and EPRP.