From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 29: All parents should mandatorily immunize their children with the polio vaccine, Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Friday.

Speaking to media in Vidhana Soudha, the Minister said Polio Vaccination drive was supposed to be held on January 17. Due to Covid-19 vaccination drive, polio vaccination drive was postponed.

As many as 64,07,930 children in the age group of 0-5 will be given polio vaccination on January 31, he said.

Polio vaccination drive will be flagged off by Chief Minister at his home office.

Even if the children have been vaccinated earlier, they have to be vaccinated again. There is no side effect from this, he said.

Dr Sudhakar said there is no case of polio found since last 10 to 11 years and India is declared polio-free. However, as polio is still found in neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan, we have to administer vaccine mandatorily, he said.

We have 85,05,060 doses of polio vaccine and 1,10,179 vaccinators available in the state and as many as 6,645 supervisor teams, 904 mobile teams have been formed. A total of 32,908 booths have been identified across the state, explained the Minister.

As many as 2,90,533 people have been administered Covid-19 vaccine in the state and there is no casualties due to any side effects. People should not believe in misinformation.

"Even in cases where side effects have been found, they have recovered. If we don't utilise a panacea-like this it will be a huge loss to us,’’ he said.

The Minister explained that the State Government has taken all precautionary measures to reopen schools. Health and Education departments are working together to ensure this, he added.