Pulse Polio Campaign 2025: Minister Sakeena Itoo Launches National Immunization Day Across Jammu & Kashmir

JAMMU, DECEMBER 21, 2025: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, officially kick-started the Pulse Polio Campaign 2025 across the Union Territory today by administering oral polio vaccine drops to children at Government Hospital Gandhinagar, Jammu.

Highlighting the government’s unwavering commitment to maintaining India’s polio-free status, the Minister emphasized that the responsibility of immunization rests with both parents and the community at large. She lauded the relentless dedication of over 42,000 healthcare workers, including ASHAs and Anganwadi volunteers, who navigate challenging terrains to ensure life-saving drops reach every household. Minister Itoo reiterated that robust monitoring and universal coverage are essential to safeguarding the health of future generations, urging all stakeholders to ensure no child under the age of five is left unvaccinated.

The scale of this year’s campaign is massive, with the Health Department establishing approximately 11,000 vaccination booths across Jammu and Kashmir to target nearly 20 lakh eligible children. To ensure total coverage, the administration has deployed 520 mobile teams and set up 256 transit vaccination points to reach children in transit and in far-flung, vulnerable areas.

Secretary Health, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed, and MLA Vikram Randhawa also addressed the gathering, noting that while India achieved polio-free status in 2014, sustained vigilance remains critical. With house-to-house visits scheduled to follow the initial booth-day, the department has mobilized an extensive network of medical professionals and volunteers to reinforce J&K’s public health defense against the disease.