CM Majhi Calls for Universal Child Vaccination on World Polio Day
Synopsis
On World Polio Day, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi called for universal child immunisation to protect India's polio-free status, achieved in 2014 after the Pulse Polio Programme launched in 1995.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi marked World Polio Day on 24 October 2026 with a public call for universal childhood vaccination.
India's Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme was launched in 1995 targeting all children under five.
WHO certified India polio-free in March 2014 after the last wild poliovirus case in 2011.
Global partners — WHO, UNICEF, and Rotary International — continue to coordinate polio surveillance and immunisation drives.
India sustains polio-free status through repeated National Immunization Days and the Universal Immunisation Programme .
State-level participation, particularly in states like Odisha with remote and tribal areas, remains critical to preventing re-emergence.
On World Polio Day, 24 October 2026, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged citizens to renew their commitment to a polio-free world, placing childhood immunisation at the centre of his message. The call arrives as India marks more than a decade of sustained polio-free status — a hard-won achievement that still demands vigilance.
CM Majhi wrote: 'Let us reaffirm our commitment to a polio-free world by spreading awareness about the importance of vaccination. Let us work together to ensure that every child receives the necessary immunisation and is protected against polio, paving the way for a healthier future for all.'
From 1995 to Polio-Free: India's Long March
India's battle against polio stretches back to 1995, when the government launched the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme — a door-to-door campaign targeting every child under five. The effort was staggering in scale: millions of health workers fanning out across cities, villages, and remote hamlets, delivering oral vaccine drops on designated National Immunization Days.
The strategy paid off. In March 2014, the World Health Organization certified India polio-free, following the last reported wild poliovirus case in 2011. The milestone placed one of the world's most populous nations among countries that had broken the chain of transmission entirely.
Why the Reminder Still Matters in 2026
Eradication is not the same as immunity from risk. Global health bodies including WHO, UNICEF, and Rotary International — the principal partners behind worldwide polio eradication — consistently warn that as long as the virus persists anywhere, no country is entirely safe. Surveillance under India's Universal Immunisation Programme continues to run precisely to catch any re-emergence early.
For a state like Odisha, with its mix of urban centres, tribal districts, and seasonally inaccessible terrain, maintaining high routine vaccination coverage is an ongoing operational challenge. State health departments remain the last mile in converting national policy into protected children.
World Polio Day and the Global Countdown
World Polio Day is observed every 24 October as a reminder that the final stretch of eradication is often the hardest. Wild poliovirus now circulates in only a handful of countries globally, but vaccine-derived strains require continued immunisation discipline to suppress. CM Majhi's message aligns Odisha with that global countdown — a signal that state leadership is engaged, not merely observing.
Every child immunised today is one fewer vulnerability in the chain. That is the arithmetic of eradication, and it is what makes routine awareness drives more than ceremony.
Point of View
But it carries a quiet policy signal: Odisha's political leadership is publicly aligned with health department messaging on routine immunisation at a time when global eradication partners are pushing for zero complacency. For a BJP-led state government, associating with a programme that predates the party's current tenure at the centre underscores a bipartisan consensus on vaccine coverage. The broader pattern — state CMs amplifying central and global health campaigns — reflects how public health communication increasingly flows through political social-media channels, blurring the line between governance and awareness drive.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is World Polio Day observed and why?
World Polio Day is observed every 24 October to promote global polio eradication and raise awareness about the importance of vaccination. It was established by Rotary International to mark the birthday of Jonas Salk, who developed the first polio vaccine.
Is India still polio-free in 2026?
Yes. India was certified polio-free by the WHO in March 2014 and has maintained that status through continued National Immunization Days and surveillance under the Universal Immunisation Programme.
What is the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme?
The Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme is India's nationwide door-to-door vaccination drive launched in 1995 to eliminate wild poliovirus by ensuring every child under five receives oral polio vaccine drops on designated National Immunization Days.
Why does India still conduct polio immunisation drives if it is already polio-free?
Even after achieving polio-free status, India continues immunisation drives because the poliovirus still circulates in some parts of the world. Maintaining high vaccination coverage prevents the virus from re-entering the country through travel or other routes.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi say on World Polio Day 2026?
CM Mohan Charan Majhi called on citizens to 'reaffirm our commitment to a polio-free world' and urged collective action to ensure every child receives necessary immunisation, on 24 October 2026 .
