Hema Singuluri  | Hyderabad 

As the world acknowledges the World Polio Day 2025 on 24th October, doctors urge that vaccination drive for polio should be done across the nation, leaving no child behind. Despite being certified as a polio free country, health experts are calling for constant supervision, awareness and stronger outreach as this day serves as a reminder to eradicate polio globally. 

For this year’s polio day, everyone around the world organizes events, campaigns and discussions to raise awareness and resources for the final push to eradicate polio once and for all. Voluntary organizations like Rotary International, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) take the initiative. However, nationwide coverage in India is not fully achieved due to weaker access of health service in many areas and also as the gaps remain among the remote communities, migrants, refugees and even some urban slums becoming harder to reach.  

Dr. C Aparna, Clinical director and Senior consultant in Pediatrics at KIMS Kondapur threw light on how the country has progressed with respect to polio eradication as the disease used to be more prevalent in the past. Polio is caused by a virus that can lead to paralysis, especially in children below five. Eating contaminated food is one of the main causes for such infections. She emphasized on the complete eradicavtion of polio and explained that different doses are given at different weeks after birth and emphasized that pulse polio dose must be taken by every child. 

“More than 95 percent of polio and such diseases will be eradicated if complete vaccination doses are given for a child after birth”, she added. However, Dr. Aparna suggested that the Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV) Vaccine be administered as it is stronger and better than the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). The U.S is already using the IPV vaccines and would be a good choice for India also,she says. She noted on the significant progress that the nation has made towards the eradication of polio but also highlighted the lack of awareness about polio vaccination specifically in rural areas. She called for spreading more awareness as vaccination is crucial to maintain the immunity and avoid risks. 

Prevention is better than Cure 

Dr Rahul Chirag, Senior Consultant and Internal Medicine at Care Hospitals acknowledges that in the present scenario, many people are aware and most are following the immunization schedule but emphasized on the rural and travelling populations who miss campaigns. He identifies that, as per the schedule, every child needs to get the vaccine, both IPV and OPV as past misconceptions of anti- vaccination no longer dominate. “Lack of effective campaigns and less awareness are the only ones that are stopping us from becoming a 100 percent polio free nation” he said as special vaccination drives are being conducted at CARE hospitals for World Polio Day to ensure all children are reached.  

Challenges 

Maintaining high routine immunization rates and environmental surveillance remains vital to keep India polio-free as gaps persist that can affect the reach and coverage. Even small unvaccinated clusters can sustain the virus. Misinformation about vaccines remains a major barrier in certain communities. Limited awareness, Rumors, cultural beliefs, and fear of side effects can lead parents to refuse vaccination for their children. 

Sustaining pulse polio rounds, strengthening outreach to migrants and remote communities and keeping public awareness high to counter misinformation are the key points while the message “Vaccinate every child, leave none behind” for World Polio Day 2025 remains simple and clear .