1. Novel strategy by GoI to enhance
Immunization coverage
Conduction of Special immunization
Weeks
Vaccines are a strong public health tool and Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective
public health interventions to protect children against mortality, morbidity and disability
across the world, but still the immunization coverage rates are suboptimal in certain areas.
With an aim to enhance the immunization coverage in both rural and urban sectors, the
Union government has come up with a novel plan to utilize a week for providing RI
(routine immunization) services to people on priority areas.
The key objective of this campaign is to improve full immunization coverage and reach all
children, particularly in remote, inaccessible and backward areas as well as in urban slums
through Intensification of immunization activity by observing immunization weeks in low
performing areas, areas with no government health care provider(Vacant sub centers) and
high risk areas.
Four rounds of special immunization weeks will be held in low performing areas including
urban slums, migrant and mobile populations and marginalized population etc to rapidly
improve the immunization coverage in the vulnerable unreached infants and children in
these populations
During these four rounds of immunization weeks, Special immunization drives will be
conducted in pockets of low immunization coverage and high risk areas on priority basis in
the following selected weeks
ROUND MONTH DATES
1st
round April 18.04.2013 to 30.04.2013
2nd
round June 03.06.2013 to 08.06.2013
3rd
round July 08.07.2013 to 13.07.2013
4th
round August 19.08.2013 to 13.07.2013

2. During these weeks special focus will paid towards migrant, mobile populations,
marginalized populations and populations in low-immunization coverage pockets, hard to
reach areas, border villages, which are considered as high risk
A detailed list with exact address of high risk under five different categories – slums,
nomads, brick kilns, construction sites and other migratory sites is prepared to immunize the
“invisible children” who haven’t been immunized under the Routine Immunization (RI)
programme.The infants and children in this five categories are vulnerable for VPDs as they
are most of the time on move, missing vaccination shots.
Certain high risk pockets were identified during the preparation of the emergency
preparedness and response plan for polio eradication programme
Kurnool district has
Type of high risk area Number
Construction sites 27
Brick kilns 28
Uncovered Periurban areas 15
Urban slums 4
Nomads 4
Chenchu gudems 42
Thandas 61
Hard to Reach areas 13
Border villages 79
Vacant Sub centres 12
NPAP_EPRP blocks 13
Number of PHCs in
NPSP_EPRP high risk areas
46
Low performance PHCs 20
Primary targets will be children under two years and pregnant women who have not
received all due vaccines according to the National Immunization Schedule (NIS).
However, other age-group children coming for vaccination will not be denied, if eligible to
receive a vaccine under NIS.
A District Task force meeting for Immunization was conducted on 20.04.2013 where all
stakeholders (ICDS,SERP, MEPMA, Municipal authorities, DRDA,IKP) have been
sensitized for the additional efforts under the immunization weeks and solicit their active
support in recruitment of social mobilizers.
Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), children are provided vaccination to
prevent Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT), Polio, Measles, JE(Japanese Encephalitis),

3. severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis(BCG), Hepatitis-B and Tetanus toxoid for Pregnant
women to prevent Neo natal tetanus.
Various steps have been taken under Immunization programme to increase immunization
coverage and these include support for logistics such as Alternate Vaccine Delivery (AVD),
capacity building of service providers at all levels as well as strengthening reporting, and
management of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI).
Efforts have been made for strengthening supportive supervision at all levels as well as
involvement of ASHA for social mobilization of children.
In order to track every child for assured delivery of immunization services, a web enabled
name based tracking system (MCTS) has been put in place with a database of children and
updating of Micro plans to cover all villages and hamlets is being done along with provision
of MCH_R card for every pregnancy registered. This is expected to improve immunization
coverage substantially within the next one year and facilitate real time reporting on
immunization coverage.
A second dose of measles was introduced the previous year and a second dose of JE vaccine
is being introduced this year to ensure 100% protection for the infants and children from
Measles and JE.
The financial support is provided under Part C of NRHM (National Rural Health Mission)
which was launched as flagship programme by the GoI in 2005 with the objectives of
reduction of IMR, MMR and TFR to less than 30, less than 100 and 1.8 by 2015.
District Immunization Officer
KURNOOL 518002
Andhra Pradesh
India
20.04.2013