4th phase of Mission Indradhanush begins

LUCKNOW: The fourth phase of Mission Indradhanush (MI) began in the state from Sunday and will continue till January 14 to boost routine immunization among kids.

Three rounds of MI were conducted across the state in October, November and December last year. The MI was initiated in 2014 aiming to boost routine immunization among children, especially those under 2 years of age.

Special focus is on children whose parents do not have a permanent dwelling and who work at brick kilns, construction sites and other such places.

In the immunization round held across Uttar Pradesh in December, the target was to vaccinate 12,15,332 children, out of which 11,06,775 were vaccinated. It this round, 1,41,439 children were vaccinated for the first time. In UP, the routine immunization rate is 76% but the target is to make it 80% in 2018. In Lucknow, target was to vaccinate 13,723 children out of which 10,674 (77.78%) were vaccinated in the immunization round held in October. In November, the target was to vaccinate 13,053 children and 12,546 (96.11%) were vaccinated. In December, the target were 13,629 children and 12,513 (91.81%) were vaccinated.

In the fourth round of the campaign, which began on Sunday, the target is to cover 90% children in the city.

The fourth round is said to be most significant as feedback from all the rounds, especially the fourth one, will be noted by the field staff and reported back to the senior officials. The feedback will help to sketch a strategy for the future routine immunization programme.