Mangaluru: As part of the 2025 Pulse Polio immunisation programme scheduled for December 21, Pulse Polio drops will be administered to 1,41,594 children below the age of five across Dakshina Kannada district, District Health and Family Welfare Officer (DHO) Dr H.R. Thimmayya said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference at the office of the Dakshina Kannada District Health and Family Welfare Officer in Mangaluru, Dr Thimmayya said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure that every eligible child is covered under the nationwide campaign aimed at keeping India polio-free.
956 booths across the district
Dr Thimmayya said a total of 956 booths will be set up across the district to administer the polio vaccine. These include 921 static booths, 32 transit booths and three mobile booths, primarily in Mangaluru city.
The booths have been strategically located to ensure easy access for parents and guardians. Transit booths will function at busy locations such as bus stands, railway stations and the airport to cover children travelling on the day of vaccination.
“The objective is to ensure that no child in the 0–5 age group is missed, even if families are on the move,” Dr Thimmayya said.
Taluk-wise vaccination targets
The DHO provided a detailed taluk-wise breakup of the vaccination targets. In Bantwal taluk, 29,203 children below five years of age will be administered Pulse Polio drops. Belthangady will cover 18,091 children, while the largest number — 66,062 children — will be vaccinated in Mangaluru taluk.
In Puttur taluk, 19,958 children are expected to receive the drops, and in Sullia taluk, the target has been set at 8,280 children.
To achieve these targets, 202 booths have been arranged in Bantwal, 166 in Belthangady, 363 in Mangaluru, 148 in Puttur and 77 in Sullia. Health officials said adequate manpower has been deployed at all locations to manage crowds and ensure smooth conduct of the drive.
Vaccination schedule and follow-up
The Pulse Polio vaccination will be carried out on December 21 from 8 am to 5 pm. Two life-saving polio drops will be administered to every child in the eligible age group.
Dr Thimmayya emphasised that special attention would be paid to children who miss the vaccination on the main day. “Children who do not receive the drops on December 21 will be covered through door-to-door vaccination,” he said.
In urban areas, door-to-door vaccination will be carried out on December 22, 23 and 24. In rural areas, follow-up vaccination will be conducted on December 22 and 23 to ensure complete coverage.
Importance of Pulse Polio programme
Dr Thimmayya highlighted the significance of the Pulse Polio programme, which was launched in India in 1995–96 and has since achieved remarkable success.
Polio is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that typically enters the body through contaminated food or water. It primarily affects children below five years of age and attacks the nervous system.
“Infected children may initially experience symptoms such as sore throat, headache, vomiting, back pain and muscle pain,” Dr Thimmayya explained. “In severe cases, the disease can progress to muscle weakness, paralysis and even breathing difficulties due to nervous system damage.”
He pointed out that the virus spreads from person to person and mainly affects individuals who do not have immunity. “There is no cure for polio, but it can be effectively prevented through vaccination. This is why repeated immunisation drives like Pulse Polio are essential,” he said.
India’s polio-free status
Referring to India’s achievement in eliminating polio, Dr Thimmayya said the last polio case in the country was reported on January 13, 2011. Karnataka recorded its last polio case even earlier, in 2007.
“India was officially removed from the list of polio-endemic countries on March 27, 2014. Maintaining this status requires sustained efforts and high immunisation coverage,” he said, urging parents to cooperate with health workers.
He added that even children who have been vaccinated earlier must be given Pulse Polio drops during the campaign to maintain community immunity.
Appeal to parents and public
The district health authorities have appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that their children below five years of age are taken to the nearest booth on December 21.
“Pulse Polio drops are safe, effective and essential. There are no side effects, and they play a crucial role in protecting children from a lifelong disability,” Dr Thimmayya said.
He also sought the cooperation of schools, anganwadi workers, local bodies and community volunteers in spreading awareness about the campaign and guiding parents to vaccination booths.
Officials present
Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Officer Dr Rajesh and Health Education Officer Jyothi were present at the press conference, along with other health department staff involved in organising the campaign.
Conclusion
With nearly 1.42 lakh children set to be covered and close to 1,000 booths functioning across Dakshina Kannada, the district administration is aiming for 100 per cent coverage under the 2025 Pulse Polio programme. Health officials stressed that continued vigilance and public participation are vital to ensure that polio does not re-emerge, reaffirming the collective responsibility of safeguarding future generations from this preventable disease.