CM Bhajan Lal Calls for Polio Vaccination Awareness on World Polio Day
Synopsis
On World Polio Day 2026, Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma urged citizens to spread polio vaccination awareness, stressing that every eligible child must be protected. India has maintained polio-free status since 2014 through sustained immunisation drives.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma marked World Polio Day on 24 October 2026 by calling for heightened vaccination awareness.
He emphasised that no eligible child should be left unprotected from polio.
India launched the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme in 1995 and was declared polio-free by WHO in 2014 .
Polio-free status is maintained through the Universal Immunisation Programme and periodic National Immunization Days.
States like Rajasthan conduct supplementary drives to guard against the risk of imported poliovirus.
Every safe childhood is a vote against a disease the world once feared would never be beaten. On World Polio Day, 24 October 2026, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma called on citizens to strengthen awareness around polio vaccination, ensuring no eligible child is left unprotected.
In his post, CM Sharma wrote: 'सुरक्षित और स्वस्थ कल की शुरुआत सुरक्षित बचपन से होती है' — 'A safe and healthy tomorrow begins with a safe childhood.' He urged people to promote immunisation awareness so that every child eligible for the polio vaccine receives it without exception.
From Endemic Nation to Polio-Free: India's Hard-Won Victory
The message lands against one of modern public health's most remarkable turnarounds. India launched the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme in 1995, deploying health workers door-to-door across one of the world's most densely populated countries. The effort paid off: the World Health Organization declared India polio-free in 2014 — a milestone that once seemed improbable given the scale of the challenge.
That status, however, is never permanent by default. India sustains it through the Universal Immunisation Programme, which includes periodic National Immunization Days targeting children under five. States like Rajasthan — with its vast rural geography and mobile populations near international borders — play a frontline role in maintaining the coverage wall that keeps imported poliovirus from finding a foothold.
Why Vigilance Still Matters in a 'Polio-Free' Country
The global picture explains the urgency behind an awareness call even in 2026. Wild poliovirus remains endemic in parts of the world, meaning unvaccinated children anywhere remain a vulnerability everywhere. Rotary International and the WHO have anchored the global eradication push for decades, and India's continued participation — through state-level drives and community outreach — is a critical link in that chain.
For Rajasthan, periodic supplementary immunisation rounds are the mechanism that closes gaps routine vaccination may miss. CM Sharma's call on World Polio Day keeps that imperative visible at the political level, signalling to district health machinery that coverage remains a priority.
A disease eliminated once can return — the only guarantee against that is the next round of drops reaching the next child on the list.
Point of View
Not just institutional momentum. Rajasthan's geography, with large rural belts and migrant movement, makes it particularly vulnerable to coverage gaps. The post reflects a broader BJP-governed state pattern of using national and global health observances to reinforce immunisation narratives. The real test lies in whether the political visibility translates into intensified ground-level drives before the next National Immunization Day.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is World Polio Day observed?
World Polio Day is observed annually on 24 October to promote awareness about polio eradication and the importance of vaccination worldwide.
Is India still polio-free in 2026?
Yes. India was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2014 and maintains that status through the Universal Immunisation Programme and periodic supplementary immunisation rounds.
What is the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme?
The Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme is India's nationwide polio vaccination campaign launched in 1995 , which administers oral polio vaccine to all children under five during National Immunization Days.
What did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma say on World Polio Day 2026?
CM Sharma called on citizens to increase awareness about polio vaccination, stating that a safe and healthy future begins with a safe childhood and urging that no eligible child be left without protection.
Why does India still hold polio vaccination drives if it is already polio-free?
Polio-free status must be actively maintained because the virus remains endemic in some parts of the world. Ongoing vaccination drives prevent imported cases from re-establishing transmission within India.
