Mysuru district launched its 2026 Pulse Polio immunisation campaign on Sunday (June 28), with a target of administering oral polio drops to 2,19,521 children below the age of five.

Launching the campaign, Tanveer Sait, former Minister and Narasimharaja MLA, said sustained efforts by the State government and the Health Department had enabled India to remain polio-free. Recalling the time when polio affected thousands of children, he said the continued efforts, along with public participation, resulted in the successful eradication of the disease.

The MLA also inaugurated a new Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Badamakan to strengthen healthcare services. The facility has fulfilled a long-standing demand of local residents and will offer primary healthcare services, with specialist doctors scheduled to visit periodically. Dedicated facilities have also been created on the first floor for maternal and child healthcare, including services for pregnant women and children.

District Health Officer P.C. Kumaraswamy said 2,19,521 children under the age of five had been identified for immunisation during the campaign. The Health Department established 1,641 booths across the district to administer the drops.

With Mysuru being a major tourist destination, 49 special transit vaccination points have been set up at high-footfall locations, including Chamundi Hills, the Mysuru palace premises and the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, to vaccinate children who may miss the booth sessions.

Further, 821 field teams will conduct door-to-door visits on Monday (June 29), Tuesday (June 30) and Wednesday (July 1) to identify children who missed vaccination at the booths. The teams are expected to cover more than seven lakh households, while 328 supervisors have been deployed to monitor the campaign. Three mobile teams have also been stationed at bus stands and checkposts to vaccinate children on the move.

To maintain the vaccine cold chain, the department has identified 168 Ice-Lined Refrigerator (ILR) and deep freezer points across the district. Officials have also mapped 1,396 high-risk locations, including remote tribal hamlets and difficult-to-reach habitations, where special efforts will be made to ensure complete immunisation coverage.

The district health officer said the newly inaugurated PHC has been staffed with an MBBS doctor, two General Nursing and Midwifery-qualified nursing officers and a laboratory technician. Specialists in eight disciplines, including gynaecology, paediatrics and general medicine, will provide services on a rotational basis through the Ayushmati Clinic, while patients requiring advanced treatment will be referred to higher medical facilities.

He added that the government plans to upgrade the PHC into a Community Health Centre (CHC) in the future with permanent specialist services, including a gynaecologist, an anaesthetist and a paediatrician.

Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi and other officials were present.