Hyderabad: The overwhelming response for the inactivated polio vaccine drive has taken health officials by surprise.
More than 50,000 children aged between sex weeks and three years were vaccinated on the first day of the drive on Monday. Dr G. Srinivas Rao, senior member of the government co-ordination team, said, "It is 15 per cent more than the estimated target on the first day. We were expecting a turnout of 20,000 children. There are 756 booths that have been set up in Hyderabad and 116 in Ranga Reddy district. The number of couples coming to the booths with their young children is very encouraging. This shows that there is a lot of awareness among people."
After the polio derived vaccine virus was found in the Amberpet nala, the World Health Organization (WHO) had approached the Telan-gana government and said the special drive must be carried out.
Along with the state health officials, senior members of the WHO are also on the field, checking booths. Senior assistant to the health minister, Dr N. Gangadhar, said, "The WHO team has been checking on the updates from the Health department every day and suggestions offered on how the drive can be further intensified."
