Polio immunisation drive begins from Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar's house

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar kicked off the state's latest Pulse Polio immunisation drive from his home in Bengaluru on Sunday, June 28, 2026, aiming to protect over 60 lakh (6 million) children under the age of five. This significant health campaign, also launched by Health Minister U.T. Khader, marks a crucial step in India's ongoing battle to keep the crippling disease at bay and ensure every child receives the vital Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). Even though India was declared polio-free back in 2014, the threat of the Wild Poliovirus (WPV) remains real, especially with cases still found in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan. This nationwide effort, part of the National Immunisation Day (NID), is a constant reminder that 'polio-free' doesn't mean 'risk-free'. The Karnataka Health Department, along with support from NGOs and local bodies, has set up over 36,000 vaccination booths and deployed more than 1.14 lakh health workers and supervisors to reach every eligible child, including those in remote areas or on the move. The drive will continue over the next few days with health workers conducting door-to-door visits to ensure no child misses their polio drops. This vigilant strategy, involving transit teams at bus stops and railway stations, is crucial to maintaining the country's hard-won polio-free status against any potential re-entry of the virus. Parents are urged to ensure their children receive these 'two drops of life' to secure a healthy, polio-free future for India.