Gandhinagar, June 16 (IANS). TD (Tetanus and Adult Diphtheria) and DPT vaccination campaign has been started in Gujarat. Under this campaign, about 19 lakh school children will be vaccinated. The goal of the Health Department is that no eligible child is deprived of vaccination to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and other serious diseases.
State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya formally launched the “TD and DPT Triple Vaccination Campaign-2026” at PM Shri Borij Government Primary School, Gandhinagar. Under this campaign, vaccines were administered to students of class 5 and class 10 as well as those children.
Under this campaign, the state government will organize 48,529 sessions of Td vaccination in 48,295 schools to cover approximately 18.75 lakh children.
This campaign will be supported by 992 teams working under the National Child Health Programme. Under the National Immunization Programme, a second dose of DPT booster vaccine is given to children of five years of age.
To make this easier, officials will organize 35,819 vaccination sessions in 38,794 kindergartens, covering around 5.89 lakh children.
Addressing the gathering, Pansheriya said that healthy citizens are the foundation of India’s long-term development goals. He said, “The dream of ‘Best India, Developed India, Cultural India and Ideal India’ seen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by 2047 rests on the foundation of healthy citizens.”
He said that the Gujarat government is committed to ensuring that every child gets vaccinated. Our health system is working round the clock and reaching every home and school, so that no child is deprived of vaccination.”
Emphasizing the importance of vaccination, Pancheria reminded that in earlier decades, due to delay in getting vaccines, many children became vulnerable to diseases like polio, which often left them with lifelong disability.
He said advances in global medical research and access to healthcare have transformed vaccination efforts in India.
Referring to the country’s success against polio, he said, “After the last case of polio was reported in 2007, the combined efforts of schools, teachers, media and NGOs helped us eliminate the disease.”
The minister also said that Gujarat has recently emerged as the leading state in the country in the cervical cancer vaccination program for girls aged 14 to 15 years. More than 5.50 lakh girls in Gujarat have been vaccinated against cervical cancer, helping protect them from future cancer risks.”
Pansheriya urged children to avoid food junk, adopt a nutritious diet and take care of hygiene (which includes washing hands with soap before eating).
He said that the Health Department will continue its efforts until every eligible child in the state comes under the ambit of this campaign. He also thanked the educational institutions, teachers, media organizations and voluntary groups for their cooperation in the vaccination campaign.
Health Commissioner Ratan Kanwar Gadhvi Charan welcomed the people participating in the program and explained the importance of vaccination to the children and parents. Also, he urged families to ensure that their children get the required doses.
Among those present there were Gandhinagar Mayor Meira Patel, MLA Rita Patel, Municipal Commissioner J.S. Prajapati and senior officials of health and education departments were included.
–IANS
SHK/VC
