The "TD and DPT Triple Vaccination Campaign-2026" was formally launched by State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya at PM Shri Borij Government Primary School in Gandhinagar. During the launch event, vaccines were administered to Class 5 and Class 10 students, as well as children who had completed five years of age.

Under the campaign, the state government will organise 48,529 TD vaccination sessions across 48,295 schools, covering an estimated 18.75 lakh children. The initiative will be supported by 992 teams working under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).

As part of the National Immunisation Schedule, children aged five years receive the second dose of the DPT booster vaccine. To facilitate this, authorities will conduct 35,819 vaccination sessions across 38,794 Balvatikas, benefiting an estimated 5.89 lakh children.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Praful Pansheriya said that healthy citizens form the foundation of India's long-term development goals. He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a "Best India, Developed India, Cultural India and Virtuous India" by 2047 depends on building a healthy population.

The minister said the Gujarat government remains committed to ensuring that every child receives timely vaccinations and that maternal health continues to be a priority. He added that the health system is working round the clock, reaching every household and school to ensure that no child is deprived of vaccination and mothers remain healthy.

Highlighting the importance of immunisation, Pansheriya noted that delays in vaccine availability in earlier decades had left many children vulnerable to diseases such as polio, often resulting in lifelong disabilities. However, advances in medical research and improved healthcare access have significantly strengthened vaccination efforts in India.

Referring to the country's success against polio, he said that after the last polio case was reported in 2007, the combined efforts of schools, teachers, media organisations and NGOs helped eradicate the disease.

The minister also said that Gujarat has recently emerged as the leading state in India's cervical cancer vaccination programme for girls aged 14 to 15 years. More than 5.50 lakh girls in the state have been vaccinated against cervical cancer, helping reduce future cancer risks.

Pansheriya urged children to avoid junk food, adopt nutritious diets and maintain personal hygiene, including washing hands with soap before meals. He said the health department would continue its efforts until every eligible child in the state had been covered under the campaign and thanked educational institutions, teachers, media organisations and voluntary groups for their support.

Health Commissioner Ratan Kanwar Gadhvi Charan welcomed participants at the event and explained the importance of vaccination to children and parents, urging families to ensure that their children receive the recommended doses.

Among those present at the event were Gandhinagar Mayor Mira Patel, MLA Rita Patel, Municipal Commissioner J.S. Prajapati and senior officials from the health and education departments.

With Inputs From IANS