Gandhinagar, June 17: The Gujarat government has initiated a TD (Tetanus and Adult Diphtheria) and DPT vaccination campaign. This initiative aims to vaccinate approximately 1.9 million school children across the state. The health department’s goal is to ensure that no eligible child is left unvaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, and other serious diseases.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya formally launched the “TD and DPT Triple Vaccination Campaign-2026” at PM Shri Borij Government Primary School in Gandhinagar. The campaign will cover students in grades 5 and 10, along with other eligible children.
To achieve this, the state government plans to conduct 48,529 TD vaccination sessions in 48,295 schools, targeting around 1.875 million children.
Support for this campaign will come from 992 teams working under the National Child Health Program. As part of the national vaccination program, children aged five will receive the second dose of the DPT booster vaccine.
To facilitate the process, officials will hold 35,819 vaccination sessions in 38,794 anganwadis, reaching approximately 589,000 children.
Addressing the gathering, Pansheriya emphasized that healthy citizens are the foundation for India’s long-term development goals. He stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a ‘Best India, Developed India, Cultural India, and Ideal India’ by 2047 is built on the foundation of healthy citizens.”
He assured that the Gujarat government is committed to ensuring every child receives their vaccinations. “Our health system is working around the clock, reaching every home and school to ensure no child is left unvaccinated,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of vaccination, Pansheriya recalled that delays in vaccine availability in previous decades led to many children suffering from diseases like polio, often resulting in lifelong disabilities.
He noted that advancements in global medical research and healthcare access have transformed vaccination efforts in India.
Referring to the country’s success in eradicating polio, he mentioned, “Since the last case of polio was reported in 2007, collaborative efforts from schools, teachers, media, and NGOs have helped eliminate this disease.”
The minister also pointed out that Gujarat has recently emerged as a leading state in the cervical cancer vaccination program for girls aged 14 to 15, with over 550,000 girls vaccinated to protect them from future cancer risks.
Pansheriya urged children to avoid junk food, adopt nutritious diets, and maintain cleanliness, including washing hands with soap before meals.
He confirmed that the health department will continue its efforts until every eligible child in the state is covered by the campaign. He also thanked educational institutions, teachers, media organizations, and volunteer groups for their support in the vaccination drive.
Health Commissioner Ratan Kanwar Garhvi welcomed attendees and explained the importance of vaccination to children and parents, urging families to ensure their children receive the necessary doses.
Among the attendees were Gandhinagar Mayor Meera Patel, MLA Rita Patel, Municipal Commissioner J.S. Prajapati, and senior officials from the health and education departments.
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