Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Monday launched the multi-media campaign for 'Mission Indradhanush' - the project which aims to cover all children who are either unvaccinated or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases by 2020.
Speaking on the occasion, Nadda sought the cooperation and support of all stakeholders, including civil society, states, political leaders and media for creating awareness regarding the importance of fully immunizing every child.
"It is a very ambitious project and is a huge responsibility. Only 65 percent children in India receive all vaccines during their first year of life. Every third child in our country is not immunized or is partially immunized," Nadda said.
Nadda said between 2009 and 2013 immunisation coverage has increased from 61 to 65 percent, indicating just one percent increase in the coverage every year. Therefore, to accelerate the process, 'Mission Mode' has been adopted.
"A total of 201 high-focus districts will be taken up for implementation in the first phase. Of these, 82 districts are in just four states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and nearly 25 percent of the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children are in these districts," Nadda said.