Gujarat Pulse Polio drive targets 83.49 lakh children under 5 from Gandhinagar
Synopsis
Gujarat has mobilised nearly 66,000 health teams and over 32,000 booths to vaccinate more than 83 lakh children under five in a three-day Pulse Polio blitz — with mobile squads targeting brick kilns, construction sites, and railway stations to ensure not a single child is missed.
Key Takeaways
CM Bhupendra Patel launched Gujarat's Pulse Polio immunisation campaign on 28 June from Gandhinagar .
The drive targets more than 83.49 lakh children aged below five years across the state.
Vaccination is being carried out through 32,997 booths staffed by 65,994 health teams under 6,599 supervisors .
Door-to-door visits will continue on 29 and 30 June to reach children who missed booth-based vaccination.
In Gandhinagar district alone, over 1.58 lakh children will be covered via 746 booths , 103 mobile teams , and 5 transit teams .
Mobile and transit teams are specifically targeting high-mobility groups at brick kilns, construction sites, bus stands, and railway stations.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday, 28 June formally launched the state's Pulse Polio immunisation campaign in Gandhinagar, administering oral polio vaccine drops to children to mark the start of a three-day drive aimed at reaching more than 83.49 lakh children aged below five years across the state.
Scale of the Campaign
The drive, conducted under the national Polio Eradication Programme, will be delivered through 32,997 polio booths set up across Gujarat. A total of 65,994 health teams have been deployed, working under the supervision of 6,599 Health Department supervisors, to ensure every eligible child receives the oral polio vaccine.
28 June was observed as Polio Sunday, with booth-based vaccination carried out across the state. The campaign will continue on 29 and 30 June, when health workers will conduct door-to-door visits to reach children who may have missed the booth-based round.
What Officials Said
Minister of State for Health Praful Pansheriya, who was present at the launch alongside CM Patel, stated: 'Today, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the polio vaccination drive has been launched. All children aged 0 to 5 years will be given polio drops. The campaign will continue for three days.'
Senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajiv Topno and Health Commissioner Dr Ratankavar Gadhvi attended the launch event, along with Gandhinagar Mayor Mira Patel, Gandhinagar North MLA Rita Patel, and party city president Ashish Dave.
Gandhinagar District Focus
In Gandhinagar district alone, more than 1.58 lakh children are to be vaccinated through a network of 746 vaccination booths. To reach children in remote and high-mobility areas, 103 mobile teams will be deployed to locations such as brick kilns and construction sites.
Additionally, five transit teams will operate at bus stands, railway stations, and other public transit points to vaccinate children who are travelling. A total of 3,167 health workers are engaged in the district-level effort alone, coordinating across booths, mobile units, and transit points.
Why This Drive Matters
India was declared polio-free in 2014, but periodic immunisation campaigns remain critical to maintaining that status, particularly given the risk posed by high-mobility and underserved populations. Gujarat's campaign specifically targets brick kiln workers, construction-site communities, and travellers — groups historically harder to reach through fixed-booth drives.
The state government has framed the initiative as part of its sustained commitment to the national eradication programme, ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated. With the door-to-door phase running through 30 June, health officials are expected to report final coverage figures early next week.
Point of View
But the operational detail here tells a more substantive story. Deploying 103 mobile teams to brick kilns and construction sites, and five transit teams at railway stations, signals that Gujarat's health machinery understands where past drives have leaked — high-mobility, low-documentation populations. The real metric to watch is not the booth count but the door-to-door coverage rate on 29 and 30 June, when health workers will chase the children the booths missed. India's polio-free status, maintained since 2014, depends precisely on closing those last gaps.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gujarat Pulse Polio campaign launched on 28 June?
It is a three-day statewide oral polio vaccination drive launched by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on 28 June, targeting more than 83.49 lakh children aged below five years. The campaign runs through 30 June and is part of India's national Polio Eradication Programme.
How many children will be vaccinated in the Gujarat Pulse Polio drive?
More than 83.49 lakh children aged 0 to 5 years are targeted for vaccination across Gujarat. In Gandhinagar district alone, the figure exceeds 1.58 lakh children.
How will the campaign reach children who miss the vaccination booths?
On 29 and 30 June, health workers will conduct door-to-door visits to administer oral polio vaccine to children who were not vaccinated at booths. Additionally, 103 mobile teams will cover brick kilns and construction sites, while five transit teams will operate at bus stands and railway stations.
How many health workers are deployed for the Gujarat polio drive?
A total of 65,994 health teams, supervised by 6,599 Health Department supervisors, have been deployed statewide. In Gandhinagar district, 3,167 health workers are engaged across booths, mobile units, and transit points.
Why are periodic Pulse Polio campaigns still conducted if India is polio-free?
India was declared polio-free in 2014, but routine immunisation campaigns are essential to maintain that status by preventing any resurgence. High-mobility and underserved populations — such as migrant workers and travellers — remain priority targets to ensure no gaps in vaccine coverage.
