Extension of deadlines is usually the norm. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advanced by two years- from 2020 to 2018-the target to achieve a 90 per cent coverage of immunisation in the country. And it will be monitored by the PMO.
As per 2014 data, immunization coverage in India is 65 per cent. Nearly 35 percent (9.46 million) children up to five years in India remain partially immunised or unimmunized due to various reasons.
Now, faced with the daunting task to meet 90 per cent coverage goal by 2018 as directed by the Prime Minister in a review meeting recently, the Union Health Ministry from October will embark on an extensive four-month Intensified Mission Indradhanush Immunisation (IMII) programme spread over seven working days in the highly affected areas.
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"During the Pragati review meeting held recently, the Prime Minister directed us to achieve the goal of 90 per cent immunisation coverage by 2018 under Mission Indradhanush with special focus on urban slum areas and districts where the situation is worst," a senior official from the Ministry told The Pioneer.
At least 82 per cent of the total kids (12 months to 23 months) to be vaccinated are in 85 identified districts of five States-UP, MP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra.
Nearly 35 per cent of the country's 27 million children have remained partially immunised or unimmunised. Under the Mission Indradhanush launched in 2014, the Health Ministry had kept 2020 deadline to reach the goal of 90 per cent or full immunization coverage to provide them life-saving vaccines against 7 deadly diseases, free of cost.
The fourth phase of the Mission is ongoing. From 1 per cent increase in full immunisation, 'Mission Indradhanush' has contributed to 5-7 per cent till the last assessment by the Health Ministry.
To put the vaccination efforts on high speed under the IMII programme, several Volunteers from NCC and Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sanghthan will be roped in for the first time with the greater convergence with the non-health Ministries such as Rural Development, Panchyati Raj, Women and Child Development and a few others.
Robust headcount will be carried out by ASHAs and aanganwadi workers on the basis of which logistics such as vaccines will be finalized. And once IMII is over, it will become the part of routine immunization drive.
Vacant sub-centres, low-coverage areas, urban areas, high-risk areas indentified under the polio eradication programme, migrant settlements, areas with low routine immunization coverage identified through cases such as of measles or diphtheria outbreaks in last two years, small villages, nomadic sites, and hard to reach population among others will be the focus area during the IMII.