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Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said India’s polio-free status reflects the country’s sustained commitment to immunisation.
In a social media post marking World Polio Day, Nadda recalled that the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified India as polio-free in 2014.
Nadda stressed that the achievement requires continued efforts to protect children and prevent the disease from returning. He further underlined the importance of remaining alert to the risk of poliovirus entering the country.
The Health Minister highlighted the government’s continued efforts to protect children through the Universal Immunisation Programme and supplementary vaccination campaigns. These initiatives provide additional doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children below five years of age.
The campaigns, however, aim to reach children in remote and underserved communities, ensuring that geographical barriers do not prevent access to vaccination.
Nadda emphasised that sustained immunisation remains essential to safeguarding public health and maintaining the gains achieved in the fight against polio.
The Minister identified high immunisation coverage, stronger disease surveillance and universal child protection as key priorities in the ongoing fight against polio.
Maintaining high vaccination rates helps protect children from infection, while effective surveillance enables health authorities to monitor potential threats and respond promptly.
The Minister stressed the need to ensure that no child remains unprotected against the disease.
India’s polio-free status, certified by WHO in 2014, is a testament to our sustained commitment to immunisation. On #WorldPolioDay, we must remain vigilant against the risk of poliovirus importation and strengthen our efforts to protect every child.
Through the Universal Immunization Programme and supplementary vaccination campaigns, we continue to ensure that children under five receive additional doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine, reaching even the most remote and underserved communities.
Our resolve remains firm: sustain high immunisation coverage, strengthen surveillance and ensure no child is left unprotected.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) October 24, 2026
India’s polio-free status represents a significant public health achievement. The risk of poliovirus importation, however, makes continued vigilance necessary.
Nadda’s message on World Polio Day reinforced the importance of sustaining vaccination programmes, strengthening monitoring systems and extending immunisation services to every community.
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