Eight districts in TN part of Mission Indradhanush-201

Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated children will be targeted in the first phase

Eight districts from Tamil Nadu will be part of the Union government pan-India vaccination programme.

The ‘Mission Indradhanush-201’ covers 201 districts in 28 states across the country targeting partially-vaccinated and unadministered children in the first phase.

In the state, Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Thiruvallur, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore and Virudhunagar would be taken up.

Between March and June 2015, four special vaccination campaigns will be conducted, in the first phase of the Mission. This will cover all children under two years of age and pregnant women, according to PIB release.

A state task force for immunisation under the leadership of Principal Secretary Health will guide and monitor the progress of the mission in the districts. Principal Secretary Health and Mission Director, NHM will sensitize District Magistrates concerned through video conference before first week of February, followed by a video conference to review preparedness for the forthcoming campaign.

District task force for immunisation, under leadership of District Magistrate will guide and monitor progress in blocks / urban bodies. District preparedness meeting, chaired by Chief Medical Officer/ Civil Surgeon to orient all block Medical Officer incharges on microplanning and reporting mechanisms will be done. Block area task force for immunization, under leadership of Block Development Officer will guide and monitor progress in blocks / urban local bodies. Training of frontline health workers, including ANMs, ASHAs and anganwadi workers will also be done, added in the statement.

The mission focuses on interventions to expand full immunisation coverage in India from 65 per cent in 2014 to 90 per cent children in the next five years. Unimmunised and partially immunized children, at risk of childhood diseases, disability and death will be targeted in the special immunization drivers under Mission Indradhanush.

Mission Indradhanush, will provide immunisation against seven life-threatening diseases (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, Tubeculosis, measles and hepatitis B). In addition, vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis and Haemophilus influensa type B will be provided in selected districts / states of the country. Vaccination against tetanus will be provided to the pregnant women.