Gandhinagar, March 15 (NationPress) In the fiscal year 2025–26, Gujarat successfully administered vaccines to over 11.30 lakh infants and more than 24 lakh children as part of its Universal Immunisation Programme, based on official reports released on Sunday.

According to officials, the extensive vaccination initiative encompassed infants, schoolchildren, and expectant mothers through routine immunisation services as well as focused campaigns executed throughout the state.

From April 2025 to February 2026, more than 11.30 lakh infants below one year received comprehensive immunisation.

During the same timeframe, over 11.94 lakh children were given the BCG vaccine, while 11.59 lakh received the pentavalent vaccine, which addresses diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Additionally, 11.24 lakh children were immunised against measles and rubella.

Vaccination initiatives were also conducted in schools and balvatikas (children's gardens) through collaboration between the education and health sectors.

Students aged 10 to 16 were vaccinated in educational institutions, whereas five-year-olds received the second DPT vaccine dose in balvatikas.

Altogether, more than 24 lakh children were immunised under these two categories in the previous year.

To uphold its polio-free status, maintained since 2007, the Gujarat government executed a special campaign in 14 districts in 2025, administering polio drops to 24.65 lakh children aged five and under.

The health department highlighted that vaccination services have expanded to remote regions through initiatives like “Tika Express”, “Mobile Mamta Day”, and the “Khilkhilat Vehicle”, which are aimed at bringing vaccines and maternal health services to hard-to-access areas.

A targeted vaccination campaign took place during the “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar” fortnight from September 17 to October 2, 2025, emphasizing maternal and child health. This campaign resulted in over 3.58 lakh children and more than 1.24 lakh pregnant women receiving vaccinations.

Pregnant women were offered the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine during antenatal visits, while children received a variety of vaccines, including BCG, pentavalent, measles-rubella, pneumococcal, injectable polio, oral polio, and rotavirus.

The state government announced the launch of a one-day intensive campaign for measles-rubella elimination on National Immunisation Day.

Utilizing real-time data from the Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Information Management System (VSIMS) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) portal, the health department pinpointed high-risk zones, including industrial areas and border districts housing children from neighboring states.

This campaign will concentrate on achieving vaccination coverage for children aged nine months to ten years.

Additionally, Gujarat has commenced the nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiative that started on February 28.

This campaign is directed at adolescent girls aged 14 to 15 years, aiming to protect them from cervical cancer.

Officials indicated that while the vaccine costs between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 in the private sector, it is being provided free of charge to eligible beneficiaries by the state government.

Health authorities have assured that safety protocols are strictly adhered to during the vaccination process, including ensuring that recipients are not vaccinated on an empty stomach and that they are monitored for 30 minutes post-administration.