**Tripura Gears Up for National Immunization Day, Sets Target to Vaccinate Over 3.4 Lakh Children**
*Agartala:*
India will observe National Immunization Day on Sunday, December 21, 2025, with a nationwide Pulse Polio vaccination campaign aimed at protecting children from the crippling effects of poliomyelitis. In Tripura, the Health Department has completed extensive preparations to ensure that every child below the age of five receives the life-saving oral polio vaccine.
Addressing a press briefing on Saturday, senior health officials, including Saju Wahid A, Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM); Dr. Nupur Debbarma, Joint Mission Director, NHM; Dr. Shouvik Debbarma, Member Secretary of the Health & Family Welfare Society; and Dr. Sribas Debbarma, State Immunization Officer, outlined the strategy and preparedness for the campaign. They reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving 100 per cent immunization coverage across the state.
Mission Director Saju Wahid A highlighted that although India has remained polio-free for the past 14 years, outbreaks reported in some neighbouring countries pose a potential risk of reintroduction of the virus. “To safeguard the country’s polio-free status, the Pulse Polio campaign continues every year. Our goal is to ensure that every child below five years of age receives two drops of the oral polio vaccine,” he said.
For this year’s campaign, Tripura has set a target of vaccinating 3,40,874 children in the 0–5 age group. To meet this goal, the Health Department will establish 3,409 vaccination booths across the state at schools, Anganwadi centres, sub-health centres, hospitals, and other temporary locations. A total of 13,636 trained vaccinators will administer the drops, supported by 682 supervisors to monitor the process and ensure smooth implementation.
Officials also announced that children who miss vaccination on December 21 will be covered through door-to-door visits by ASHA workers and health staff on December 22 and 23. Special monitoring and awareness drives have been launched to ensure no child is left out.
Emphasising the campaign slogan, “Two drops today, a healthy life tomorrow,” officials said the programme is vital not only for maintaining India’s polio-free status but also for safeguarding future generations from a preventable disease.
