In a significant push to bolster child immunisation rates, the Kanpur district administration has launched a special month-long vaccination campaign. The initiative, inaugurated by District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh, aims to cover all children who have missed their crucial routine vaccines.
Launch of the 'Vaccination Festival'
The campaign was formally kicked off on Wednesday at the Anganwadi centre in Benajhabar. District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh himself administered the first doses, giving polio drops and the MR (Measles-Rubella) vaccine to a child named Shreyansh, son of Faraz. This act symbolised the administration's commitment to protecting every child in the district.
Singh declared the entire month of December as a dedicated period for this mission, terming it a 'Vaccination Festival' that will run until December 31. The drive specifically focuses on identifying and inoculating children from birth to five years of age who were left out of the standard immunisation schedule for any reason.
Logistics and Scale of the Drive
To ensure maximum reach, the administration has established a robust network of vaccination sites across Kanpur. Every Wednesday and Saturday throughout December, parents can take their eligible children to any of the 502 designated vaccination centres set up across the district.
The District Magistrate emphasised the critical importance of this initiative. He stated that vaccines shield children from 12 serious diseases, forming an essential health shield in their formative years from birth to five. "During Covid, we saw the importance of vaccination. Many diseases can be prevented simply by getting vaccinated on time. All parents should ensure that their child is not deprived of vaccination," Singh urged.
A Community-Wide Appeal for Participation
The success of this campaign hinges on community participation. DM Jitendra Pratap Singh made a fervent appeal to all residents of Kanpur district. He requested parents and guardians to bring their children aged zero to five years to the nearest centre during this special round.
Furthermore, he urged citizens to become active ambassadors for child health. "All parents should ensure that their child is not deprived of vaccination," he said, adding a call for collective action: "He urged citizens to make all the families around them aware and help in taking as many children as possible to the vaccination centres."
This targeted drive in Kanpur city and the wider district is a crucial step towards closing the immunisation gap and building a healthier future for the state's youngest citizens.
