On Pulse Polio Immunisation Day, 5,83,384 children below the age of five were given polio drops in Hyderabad district. District immunisation officer Dr G. Srinivaslu said, “Around 90 per cent of 6.5 lakh children below the age of five have been administered pulse polio drops in the twin cities on Sunday. The remaining children are to be immunised in the coming three days during house-to-house activities.” Ranga Reddy district health officials informed that around 94 per cent of the children were immunised on Sunday.
The immunisation officials said that children can be vaccinated with Oral Polio Vaccine even if they have mild fever or diarrhoea, but should be abstained from polio drops if they are severely unwell or are suffering from meningitis, encephalitis or malaria. The last polio case was recorded in Elli Mogga Hamlet of Kakinada, East Godavari district in 2008.
Nearly 9,13,293 houses are to be covered by the teams in the next three days. 3,200 polling booths were established and 66 mobile teams were arranged in the city. Polio booths were arranged at all the transit points such as railway stations and bus stations. “Around 12,800 personnel were deployed for the polio drive from nursing students, ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, medicos, NCC scouts and guides, SHO cantonment staff, community volunteers and Self-Help Groups,” said Hyderabad district medical and health officer Dr Uma Maheswari.