Pulse Polio

Pulse Polio is a public health campaign established by the government of India in 1994 aimed at eradicating poliomyelitis (polio) in India. The initiative was started in response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) call for a global eradication of polio and has been instrumental in making India polio-free. The program involves the mass administration of oral polio vaccines (OPV) to children under the age of five years across the country.

Background

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects children under five years of age. It can lead to permanent paralysis and even death in severe cases. The virus is transmitted through contaminated water and food or contact with an infected person. The World Health Organization launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, aiming to eliminate the disease worldwide.

Implementation

The Pulse Polio initiative involves two National Immunization Days (NID) where free OPV drops are given to children under five years of age, regardless of their previous vaccination status. These days are usually organized in January and February each year. In addition to NIDs, Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs) and House-to-House activities (mop-up rounds) are conducted to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated, especially in high-risk areas.

Achievements

India was declared polio-free in March 2014 by the WHO, a significant public health achievement for the country. The success of the Pulse Polio program has been attributed to the extensive mobilization of volunteers, effective public-private partnerships, and the massive public awareness campaigns that accompanied the immunization drives.

Challenges

Despite its success, the Pulse Polio program faced several challenges, including reaching children in remote and inaccessible areas, resistance from certain communities due to misinformation, and the need for continuous surveillance to prevent the re-introduction of the virus from other countries.

Future Directions

With India being polio-free, the focus has shifted towards maintaining high immunity levels among children to prevent the re-emergence of polio. This includes routine immunization and surveillance activities, along with addressing vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) cases, which can occur in under-immunized populations.

See Also

• World Health Organization
• Vaccination
• Public health in India
• Eradication of infectious diseases