Pulse Polio Day: Over 5.4 million children vaccinated in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh successfully conducted its annual Pulse Polio Day on Sunday, reaching more than 5.4 million children under the age of five with life-saving polio drops. Health department teams administered the oral polio vaccine through nearly 39,000 vaccination booths set up across the state, following guidelines from the central government.

G. Veerapandian, Commissioner of the State Medical, Health, and Family Welfare Department, said that the state received approximately 9.9 million doses of the polio vaccine from the central government, which were distributed to all districts. Nodal officers were appointed in each district to ensure smooth implementation of the vaccination drive.

India was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2014. However, countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan still report cases of wild polio virus, prompting global efforts to prevent its spread. In fact, the virus reached Germany from Afghanistan in October 2025. In Andhra Pradesh, the last recorded case was in July 2008 in the combined East Godavari district.

To maintain India’s polio-free status, the government has been organizing the National Immunization Day (Pulse Polio) since 1995, following recommendations from the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG). Normally, children receive the oral polio vaccine five times, but an additional dose is given during Pulse Polio Day.

The vaccination drive involved teams comprising Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), ASHA workers, Anganwadi staff, and other health personnel. For children who missed the vaccination on Sunday, over 76,000 teams will visit homes on December 22 and 23 to ensure full coverage.

Additionally, mobile and transit teams were deployed at bus stands, railway stations, airports, hospitals, and public gatherings to reach children in all public spaces.