DK Shivakumar Launches Pulse Polio Drive Across Greater Bengaluru, Calls For 100% Coverage | The Bengaluru Live

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Bengaluru, Dec. 21: Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Sunday officially launched the Pulse Polio Vaccination Programme across the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits by administering two drops of polio vaccine to children below five years of age at his Sadashivanagar residence, marking National Immunisation Day.

With this, the National Pulse Polio Programme – 2025 has formally commenced in Greater Bengaluru and will be conducted from December 21 to December 24, 2025, with the objective of ensuring that every child under the age of five receives two drops of the vaccine.

Several senior officials were present during the inauguration, including GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Bengaluru Central City Corporation Commissioner Rajendra Cholan, West City Corporation Commissioner Dr. Rajendra K. V., CEO of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd. Karigowda, Special Commissioner (Health) Ramachandran, Additional Development Commissioner Daljit Kumar, Chief Health Officer Dr. S. S. Madani, Joint Commissioners Ranganath and Hemanth, along with health officers and senior officials from various city corporations.

Why Pulse Polio Still Matters

Health officials reiterated that while India has reported no polio cases since 2011 and was officially declared a polio-free country by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, the continued reporting of cases in neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan necessitates sustained immunisation efforts to protect children.

QR Code Initiative & Preparations

Through the Department of Public Health, the GBA has completed all preparations to ensure smooth implementation of the programme across all wards. As part of an innovative citizen-friendly initiative, the authority has introduced a QR code-based system to help parents and guardians easily locate the nearest Pulse Polio vaccination booth.

The QR code has been uploaded on the official GBA website and enables location-based identification of vaccination centres, simplifying access for caregivers.

Action Plan: Pulse Polio Programme – 2025 (GBA Limits)

The GBA has prepared a detailed action plan covering 145 planning units, with the following key targets:

Total households: 28,38,822
Children aged 0–5 years: 11,34,588
Total vaccination booths: 4,452
Fixed booths: 3,391
Transit teams: 601
Mobile teams: 460
Total vaccinators: 17,808
Total supervisors: 881
Slum areas: 1,349
Children (0–5) in slum areas: 4,69,849
Migrant population locations: 4,373
Migrant population: 1,61,161
Migrant children (0–5): 11,899

The programme is being implemented through Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) with the support of organisations such as Rotary International, Lions Club, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, and several non-governmental organisations.

Appeal to Citizens

The Greater Bengaluru Authority has appealed to all parents, guardians, and community members to actively participate in the campaign, ensure 100 percent vaccination coverage for children below five years, and contribute to sustaining a polio-free India.