CM Mohan Yadav Administers Polio Drops in Betul Under Pulse Polio Drive
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav joined the National Pulse Polio Campaign on 28 June 2026 in Betul, administering oral polio vaccine drops to children under five and calling on citizens to ensure no child in the 0–5 age group is left unvaccinated.
Key Takeaways
Mohan Yadav , Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh , personally administered polio drops in Betul on 28 June 2026 .
The event was part of the National Pulse Polio Campaign , India's annual immunisation drive to sustain its polio-free status.
The campaign targets all children aged 0 to 5 years , with the CM calling for zero exclusions.
India has been WHO-certified polio-free since 2014 , but annual OPV drives continue to prevent re-importation of the virus.
Frontline workers including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and ANMs are central to delivering coverage across Madhya Pradesh .
District-level coverage data is expected to be reviewed post-campaign to identify and address any vaccination gaps.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav participated in the National Pulse Polio Campaign on Sunday, 28 June 2026, personally administering polio drops to children in Betul, reaffirming the state's commitment to a polio-free future for every child aged 0 to 5 years.
Context
Posting on X, Dr. Mohan Yadav shared the campaign slogan 'Do boond har baar, polio par jeet barkaraar' ('Two drops every time, victory over polio sustained'), underscoring the symbolic and public-health significance of the drive. He urged all citizens to ensure that no child between 0 and 5 years of age is left without the life-saving oral polio vaccine dose. The post was accompanied by four images from the Betul event, depicting the Chief Minister engaging directly with children and families.
Policy Backdrop
India was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, a landmark achievement credited in large part to the sustained National Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme, which has been conducted annually since the 1990s. The programme involves administering two drops of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to all children under five, typically on designated National Immunisation Days. Despite eradication, the campaign continues to guard against re-importation of the wild poliovirus from neighbouring regions, making consistent coverage critical. Madhya Pradesh, with its large rural population and geographically dispersed districts such as Betul, has historically required intensive outreach to achieve full coverage.
Stakeholders and Impact
The direct beneficiaries of the drive are children aged 0 to 5 years across Madhya Pradesh, with the campaign reaching urban centres, rural villages, and remote tribal habitations alike. Frontline health workers — including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) — form the backbone of the door-to-door and booth-based vaccination effort. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav's personal participation in Betul serves as a public signal to district administrations and health machinery to prioritise full coverage and leave no child unvaccinated. Parents and guardians are also urged to proactively bring children to the nearest polio booth.
What's Next
Health officials in Madhya Pradesh are expected to compile district-wise coverage data in the days following the 28 June 2026 immunisation round to identify any gaps that may require catch-up vaccination. The state government's emphasis on zero-exclusion — ensuring every child in the 0–5 age bracket receives the dose — will be tested by the reach achieved in remote and underserved pockets of the state. Sustained political visibility at the highest level, as demonstrated by the Chief Minister's participation, is likely to keep administrative pressure on local health departments to close coverage gaps before the campaign window closes.
Point of View
A district with significant tribal and rural populations, signals awareness that coverage gaps in such areas remain the most critical risk to maintaining India's polio-free status. By publicly calling for zero exclusion among children aged 0 to 5, the CM places accountability squarely on the district health machinery, a move likely to accelerate last-mile outreach. The post also reinforces the BJP-led state government's positioning on preventive healthcare as a visible governance deliverable ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Pulse Polio Campaign in India?
The National Pulse Polio Campaign is India's annual mass immunisation programme in which oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops are administered to all children aged 0 to 5 years on designated National Immunisation Days to sustain the country's polio-free status, which was certified by the WHO in 2014.
Why did CM Mohan Yadav go to Betul for the polio drive?
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav visited Betul on 28 June 2026 to personally administer polio drops to children as part of the National Pulse Polio Campaign, signalling the state government's commitment to full vaccination coverage and urging citizens to ensure no child under five is missed.
Is polio still a risk in India even after eradication?
Yes. Although India has been polio-free since 2014, the risk of re-importation of wild poliovirus from neighbouring countries remains, which is why annual Pulse Polio immunisation rounds continue to be conducted to maintain high immunity levels in children under five.
Which age group is targeted by the Pulse Polio drive?
The Pulse Polio drive targets all children aged 0 to 5 years . Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav specifically called on citizens and health workers to ensure no child in this age bracket is left without the oral polio vaccine dose.
Who carries out the Pulse Polio vaccination in Madhya Pradesh?
The Pulse Polio vaccination in Madhya Pradesh is carried out by frontline health workers including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) , who operate both at fixed booths and through door-to-door outreach across urban and rural areas.
