Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) will be launched from October 7 in four districts namely Nuh, Palwal, Faridabad and Gurugram (urban) of Haryana. This was informed in the State task force meeting for the upcoming Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) round held under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Health, Amit Jha.
He said that the Centre has launched nationwide intensified routine immunisation drive to remove the immunisation gap. Wider publicity is key strategy to generate awareness among public and for raising demand of immunisation services under Intensified Mission Indradhanush, said he.
Jha said that Intensified Mission Indradhanush is the flagship initiative of the Centre to increase immunisation coverage by vaccinating all unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated children aged up to two years, and pregnant women as per routine immunisation schedule.
Giving details of achievements of Mission Indradhanush phase-IV (April-August, 2017), he said that a total of 5,952 sessions were held in phase-IV, in which 51,668 children and 20,481 pregnant women were vaccinated, and 11,519 children have been fully immunised.
During phases I, II, III and IV, a total of 1,42,577 sessions were held in which 9,65,514 children and 2,49,598 pregnant women were vaccinated and 2,17,358 children have been fully immunised against vaccine-preventable diseases such as Tuberculosis, Polio, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Haemophilus Influenzae B, Pneumonia and Meningitis, Hepatitis B, Measles and Rotavirus diarrhoea.
Jha said that the Mission will help communities, parents and key stakeholders understand the importance of routine immunisation in protecting children from life-threatening childhood diseases, increase their confidence in vaccines, address their misconceptions and fears, and motivate them to seek immunisation services.
It will help in reaching the un-reached with key routine immunisation messages and collaborative implementation of communication aimed at achieving 90 per cent full immunisation coverage, said he.
The preparedness activities and modalities of Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) were discussed during the meeting.