Pulse Polio drive on Dec 21: 1.41 lakh children to be vaccinated in Dakshina Kannada

Pulse Polio drive on Dec 21: 1.41 lakh children to be vaccinated in Dakshina Kannada

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, December 18, 2025: As part of the 2025 Pulse Polio programme scheduled to be held on December 21, Pulse Polio drops will be administered to 1,41,594 children in Dakshina Kannada district, said District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr H.R. Thimmayya.

He shared the details while addressing a press conference at the office of the Dakshina Kannada District Health and Family Welfare Officer on Thursday.

A total of 956 booths will be set up across the district to administer the vaccine, including 921 static booths, 32 transit booths, and three mobile booths in Mangaluru city.

Dr Thimmayya said that Pulse Polio drops will be given to 29,203 children below five years of age in Bantwal, 18,091 in Belthangady, 66,062 in Mangaluru, 19,958 in Puttur and 8,280 in Sullia.

For the vaccination drive, 202 booths have been arranged in Bantwal, 166 in Belthangady, 363 in Mangaluru, 148 in Puttur and 77 in Sullia. Transit teams will administer the vaccine at places such as bus stands, railway stations and the airport.

On December 21, from 8 am to 5 pm, two life-saving polio drops will be given to every child in the 0–5 age group. Maximum efforts will be made to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated. Children who miss the vaccine on that day will be covered through door-to-door vaccination on December 22, 23 and 24 in urban areas, and on December 22 and 23 in rural areas.

The Pulse Polio campaign, launched in 1995–96, has achieved remarkable success. Polio is a contagious disease caused by a virus that enters the body through contaminated water or food. If the virus infects children, it can lead to permanent disability. Polio mainly affects children below five years of age and targets the nervous system. Initial symptoms may include sore throat, headache, vomiting, back pain and muscle pain, which can later progress to nervous system damage, muscle weakness and even breathing difficulties. The virus spreads from person to person and affects those without immunity. There is no cure for polio, but the disease can be effectively prevented through vaccination, Dr Thimmayya explained.

He further stated that the last polio case in India was reported on January 13, 2011, while Karnataka recorded its last case in 2007. India was officially removed from the list of polio-endemic countries on March 27, 2014.

RCH Officer Dr Rajesh and Health Education Officer Jyothi were present at the press conference.