JAMMU: Secretary Health & Medical Education Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, today chaired a meeting of the State Task Force on Immunization (STFI) to review and finalize the preparedness for the National Immunization Day (NID)/Pulse Polio Programme-2025 scheduled to be held on 21st December 2025, followed by mop-up house-to-house rounds on 22nd and 23rd December 2025.
The meeting was attended in person by Mission Director NHM J&K, Mission Director ICDS J&K, Additional Secretary H&ME J&K, Director Family Welfare MCH & Immunization J&K, State Immunization Officer J&K, Surveillance Medical Officer WHO (Jammu), Joint Director Information Jammu, Joint Director School Education Jammu and Under Secretary H&ME.
Deputy Commissioners of all districts, Directors Health Services (Jammu/Kashmir), Municipal Commissioners Jammu/Srinagar, Assistant Director Family Welfare MCH & Immunization Jammu/Kashmir, Chief Medical Officers, Deputy Chief Medical Officers, District Immunization Officers (All J&K), State Mass Education and Media Officer J&K and Surveillance Medical Officer WHO (Kashmir) attended the meeting virtually.
The meeting was apprised of India’s sustained polio-free status, with the last wild poliovirus case reported on 13 January 2011 and polio-free certification granted in March 2014.
The Secretary highlighted that the ongoing global circulation of polio virus poses a significant risk of importation, particularly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, where WPV1 transmission persists. He emphasized the need for sustained vigilance, robust surveillance and high vaccination coverage to safeguard children in Jammu & Kashmir.
He exhorted on completing intersectoral District Task Force meetings and training of all the engaged vaccinators well in time.
The Secretary directed all the districts to ensure 100% booth activity on National Immunization Day (21st December 2025) and achieve zero missed children during mop-up rounds on 22nd and 23rd December through systematic house-to-house verification. It was emphasized that CMOs and Dy CMOs will be responsible and accountable for district performance, supervision and timely reporting.
Special focus must be placed on High-Risk Areas (HRAs), including slums, migratory settlements, nomadic groups, brick kilns, construction sites and industrial locations, along with transit points such as railway stations, airports, bus terminals, markets and religious places as detailed in the STF presentation, he added.
The Secretary urged all line departments, particularly Education, ICDS, Municipal Bodies and the Information, to extend full cooperation in planning and field execution.
He asserted that districts must ensure timely training of teams, adequate mobility support, vaccine logistics, IEC materials, media engagement and community mobilization.
He further directed that ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, school teachers, NGOs, religious leaders and community influencers be mobilized for last-mile coverage to ensure that every child under five years receives the polio vaccine drops as scheduled.