Hyderabad, 8 October 2025
A special Pulse Polio vaccination drive will be conducted on October 12 across six districts of Telangana — Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal, Sangareddy, Hanamkonda, and the urban areas of Warangal district — as part of a nationwide campaign to prevent the re-emergence of poliovirus.
The Union Health Ministry has identified 290 districts across India for this special drive, focusing on regions that witness frequent movement of people from countries where polio cases are still being reported, such as Bangladesh and Pakistan. Telangana’s inclusion of six districts follows this precautionary strategy.
According to health officials, an estimated 17,56,789 children under the age of five in these districts will be administered the oral polio vaccine during the drive. The Health Department has made extensive arrangements to ensure that every eligible child, from newborns to five-year-olds, receives the vaccination.
Officials reminded that the last polio case in Telangana was reported in 2007, and the last in India in 2011. Since then, the country has remained polio-free, but continued vigilance is necessary due to reported cases in neighbouring nations. The Health Department has appealed to parents to actively participate in the campaign and ensure that all children are immunised, reaffirming India’s commitment to maintaining its polio-free status.
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