2nd phase of Mission Indradhanush launched; focus on 352 districts

Buoyed by the success of the first phase of ‘Mission Indradhanush’, the Centre on Monday launched the second phase of the ambitious immunisation programme focussing on 352 districts and assured states of full support for achieving the target.

Launching the second phase of ‘Mission Indradhanush’, Union Health Minister JP Nadda interacted with health ministers and department secretaries of states through video-conferencing to enquire about their preparedness, and said his ministry aimed to achieve full immunisation of over 90 per cent children by 2020.

‘Mission Indradhanush’ aims at fully immunising more than 89 lakh children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. The Mission aims to immunise them against seven life-threatening but vaccine-preventable diseases – diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, tuberculosis, polio, measles and hepatitis-B.

In the second phase, 352 districts have been selected including 279 mid-priority districts, 33 from <g data-gr-id="20">North-East</g> states and 40 from the phase one. 

The second phase will commence from October 7 for a week. This will be followed by week-long intensified immunisation drives.