Vaccine is the only preventive measure available to protect children from getting infected with polio virus that could lead to permanent crippling of mobility, said Social Welfare Minister K. Jegadeeshwari.

She was addressing after inaugurating the polio vaccination camp at Urban Primary Health Centre at Pullalakottai on Sunday, in the presence of Virudhunagar MLA P. Selvam.

Ms. Jegadeeshwari said that poliomyelities was a dangerous disease that affects the nervous system and cause paralysis. This mostly affect the children below five years.

“With no treatment or permanent cure for this disease available, oral polio vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine are the only measure to protect the children from this infection,” she said.

All children, right from new born infants to those upto five years, should be given the oral drops. Even if the drops were given recently during the routine course, the oral vaccine could be administered during the camp.

“Even if the children have slight cold or fever, the drops could be given, unless the doctors prescribe any other treatment,” she added.

The polio vaccine was being given at 1,137 centres, including at Primary Health Centres, Government hospitals, Anganwadi centres, schools and community halls, bus stops and railway stations.

A total of 1.33 lakh children would be benefited by the vaccination camps manned by 4,580 workers, including health workers, anganwadi workers, members of self-help groups for women, school and college students and volunteers.

Besides, 74 mobile teams have been set up to cater to the children living in Sri Lankan Tamils Rehabilitation Camps, nomadic community and those living in temporary sheds.

The camps that started at 7 a.m. would continue till 5 p.m.

The Minister urged the parents to administer the oral drops without fail to prevent disability among chldren.

District Revenue Officer R. Ananthi, District Health Officer V. Yasodha Mani, Block Health Officer A. Arokkiya Ruben Raj, were among those who were present.