Hyderabad, June 28 (HS): The Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme commenced across Telangana on Sunday, with health authorities administering oral polio vaccine drops to children below the age of five at thousands of vaccination centres across the state.

State Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha launched the immunisation drive at Borabanda in Hyderabad by administering polio drops to children.

To ensure maximum coverage, the Health Department has set up special vaccination booths at railway stations, bus stations, airports, marketplaces and other public places to reach all eligible children.

Health officials appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that every child below five years of age receives the oral polio vaccine during the campaign.

India was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2014. However, Pulse Polio immunisation campaigns continue to be conducted as a preventive measure since the disease remains endemic in a few countries.

The campaign aims to maintain India's polio-free status and protect children against the poliovirus.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar