First Phase of Nationwide Immunisation Of Children ” Mission Indradhanush” Begins

07 April, New Delhi

The first phase of Government of India’s ambitious Universal Immunisation Programme Mission Indradhanush has launched in 201 high priority districts of the country from today, Tuesday..

The Immunisation Programme aims at covering all children below two years of age who have either not been vaccinated or partially vaccinated against seven diseases which can be prevented through vaccines.

The disease are Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Whooping Cough, Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis.

According to the health Ministry, these districts have been selected under the programme, keeping in view that nearly 50 per cent of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children are in these 201 districts.

It said, of them 82 districts are concentrated in the four states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Between 2009 and 2013 immunization coverage has increased only by 4 percent, which has prompted the government to launch Mission Indradhanush with a target of 90 percent coverage by 2020.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda who had launched the mission on 25th December last year, had said that Mission Indradhanush, aims at covering all those children by 2020 who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases. In the national capital the immunization program will also be started today with a view for providing Health Cover to Children.