Srinagar tops with 96% coverage in Kashmir; Ramban leads with 91% in Jammu division; “Polio drive to continue till December 23 with intensive house-to-house mop-up activities,” says official; Health Minister Sakeena Itoo launches pulse polio campaign in Jammu
Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar/Jammu, Dec 21: Achieving an overall coverage of 88 percent, the Pulse Polio Campaign 2025 on Sunday saw 1,755,401 children out of 1,985,736 in the 0–5 years age group administered Oral Polio Vaccine across Jammu and Kashmir.
The drive was launched by health minister Sakina Itoo at the Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, aims to immunize children against polio through extensive booth-based, mobile and transit vaccination teams deployed across the Union Territory.
According to official data available with news agency JKNS, a total of 1,755,401 children out of 1,985,736 in the age group of 0–5 years were administered polio drops across Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, December 21, achieving an overall coverage of 88 percent on the first day of the Pulse Polio campaign.
An official from the Family Welfare and Immunization told JKNS that “the drive will continue for two more days, from December 21 to 23, during which intensive house-to-house mop-up activities will be carried out to cover all left-out children.”
In the Kashmir division, 92 percent of children received polio drops on Day One. Out of 11,05,795 children, 10,13,333 were administered the vaccine. Srinagar district recorded the highest coverage in the division with 96 percent.
In Srinagar, 190,394 out of 199,253 children were administered polio drops (96%). In Anantnag, 138,044 out of 147,454 children received the vaccine (94%), while Ganderbal recorded 94 percent coverage with 45,500 out of 48,473 children vaccinated. Pulwama also achieved 94 percent, with 88,118 out of 93,567 children covered. In Kupwara, 130,331 out of 140,077 children were administered drops (93%).
Similarly, Budgam recorded 92 percent coverage with 111,480 out of 121,180 children vaccinated, Kulgam achieved 90 percent with 79,166 out of 87,605 children, while Bandipora and Shopian both recorded 86 percent coverage, vaccinating 53,072 out of 61,775 and 36,923 out of 42,824 children respectively. Baramulla also recorded 86 percent, with 140,305 out of 163,587 children administered polio drops.
In the Jammu division, 84 percent coverage was recorded on Day One. Out of 879,941 children, 742,068 were administered polio drops. Ramban district emerged as the highest-performing district in the division.
In Ramban, 54,436 out of 59,507 children were vaccinated (91%). Samba, Kathua and Kishtwar each recorded 88 percent coverage, with 42,558 out of 48,170, 90,705 out of 102,737, and 34,920 out of 39,729 children vaccinated respectively. Udhampur achieved 87 percent, with 76,610 out of 87,724 children covered.
Meanwhile, Jammu district recorded 85 percent coverage, vaccinating 189,745 out of 222,574 children. Reasi achieved 81 percent with 47,671 out of 58,808 children, while Poonch and Doda both recorded 80 percent, vaccinating 65,560 out of 82,077 and 54,578 out of 68,216 children respectively. Rajouri recorded the lowest coverage in the division at 77 percent, with 90,705 out of 110,399 children administered polio drops.
Meanwhile, the J&K-level launch programme of National Immunization Day (Polio Day) 2025 was held at Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, marking the official commencement of the Pulse Polio campaign across the Union Territory.
The programme was formally launched by Sakeena Masood Itoo Minister for Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare Department, J&K, who administered Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) drops to children. Addressing the gathering, the Minister reiterated the government’s firm commitment to safeguarding child health and sustaining India’s Polio-Free status, stressing that no child under five years of age should be left unvaccinated. She also appreciated parents for participating in the campaign despite harsh winter conditions.
Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, IAS, Secretary Health & Medical Education, J&K, highlighted the importance of National Immunization Day as a flagship public health initiative and emphasized effective micro-planning, strong supervision and inter-departmental coordination to ensure complete coverage.
Sh. Vikram Randhawa, MLA Bahu, also addressed the gathering and underscored the role of community participation, especially in high-risk and vulnerable areas.
The Pulse Polio Campaign 2025 was conducted on a massive scale across Jammu and Kashmir, with 10,893 vaccination booths were set up and 42,564 health workers and volunteers were deployed. Additionally, 256 transit vaccination points and 520 mobile teams were established to cover children on the move.
The campaign aims to administer OPV drops to approximately 20 lakh children under five years of age, ensuring that no child is missed and the Polio-Free status of the region is sustained.
The event was attended by several senior officers and dignitaries, including Dr. Poonam Sethi, Director Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization, J&K; Dr. Hamid Zargar, Director Health Services Jammu; Smt. Smita Sethi, Commissioner Food & Drug Administration, J&K; Sh. Sajad Hussain Ganai, Mission Director POSHAN, J&K; Sh. Anant Dwivedi, IAS, CEO ABDM, J&K; Sh. Rajeev Bhushan, Director Planning, Health & Medical Education; Dr. Narinder Bhatial, Medical Superintendent GH Gandhi Nagar; Dr. Shahid Hussain, State Immunization Officer J&K; Dr. Azmat Khan, SMO WHO NPSN Jammu; Sh. Rakesh Sharma, SMEMO J&K; and Sh. Parshotam Kumar, SCCO J&K, among others. (JKNS)
