Health Minister launches Pulse Polio drive

Minister of Health Y. Satya Kumar Yadav launched the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme and administered polio drops to children at the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in the Industrial Estate here on Sunday (June 28, 2026). The Minister was accompanied by Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, and District Collector M. Abhishikt Kishore.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav stated that the State has set a target of administering the polio vaccine to 49.2 lakh children below the age of five. To achieve this, nearly 60 lakh vaccine doses have been made available, and around 1.33 lakh healthcare personnel, including ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Anganwadi workers, nursing staff, and Mid-Level Health Providers (MLHPs), have been deployed across the State, he said.

The Minister said that the immunisation drive is being carried out in four phases. On the first day, vaccination will be administered at nearly 30,000 pulse polio booths set up across the State. Around 1,200 mobile medical units have been deployed to reach remote areas, while transit booths have been established at all the bus and railway stations to vaccinate children travelling with their families. During the final two days of the campaign, healthcare teams will conduct door-to-door visits to ensure that no eligible child is left out.