KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode district medical office has kick started the fourth phase of Mission Indradhanush, aimed at ensuring immunisation vaccinations for all children under-5 as per the National Immunisation programme. The first round of the one-week programme had commenced in April 7 and this would be repeated in May, June and July. “Action plan will be prepared on panchayat-level jointly by panchayat, health department and Ankanwadi workers. Children who did not administer vaccination would be traced and vaccinated at the nearest Ankanwady," said district medical officer in-charge Dr Ashadevi. Special focus will be given to vaccination resistance pockets and officials will administer vaccination according to the time and venue of the parents of the children. “Children who did not take any vaccination and those who have delayed it by a month would be found out and vaccinated at camps organised at the Public health center," added Mrs Ashadevi.
Awareness measures such as classes, CD exhibition, and pamphlet distribution would be held before the camp. As per the pulse polio immunisation drive held on January 29 and March 4, Kozhikode registered 92 per cent immunization. Among the blocks, Valayam and Kuttiyadi continue to remain as immunization resistant with showing up 57.55 per cent and 57.15 per cent respectively, the least in the district. Among the blocks, Thalakulathur was in the top followed by Mukkam. "Mission Indradhanush is not for resistance areas alone. Many parents who were unable to administer immunisation for multiple reasons can utilize the opportunity. Our aim is to bring the last child under the ambit of immunization," said District Reproductive Child Health (RCH) officer Dr. Sarala Nair. Mission Indradhanush was started in 2014 and this is the fourth phase of the programme.
