Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 24: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday emphasised the need for continued vigilance and strong immunisation efforts to maintain India's polio-free status.

In a social media post marking World Polio Day, Nadda said India's polio-free status, certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2014, reflected the country's sustained commitment to immunisation.

He cautioned against the risk of poliovirus being imported into the country and stressed the importance of strengthening preventive measures to protect every child.

The minister said the government continues to provide additional doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children below five years of age through the Universal Immunization Programme and supplementary vaccination campaigns. These initiatives aim to reach children across the country, including those living in remote and underserved communities.

Nadda highlighted that maintaining high immunisation coverage, strengthening disease surveillance and ensuring that no child remains unprotected are essential to preventing the re-emergence of polio.

World Polio Day is observed annually on October 24 to raise awareness about polio prevention and highlight the importance of vaccination in protecting children from the potentially disabling disease.