Polio Vaccination Day Rescheduled to January 31 Amid India’s Covid-19 Inoculation Drive on Saturday

India on Thursday rescheduled the National Immunisation Day, under which polio drops are administered to all kids under the age of 5, to January 31 amidst countrywide rollout of Covid-19 vaccination drive on January 16.

” In view of this world’s largest (Covid-19) immunisation exercise, it has actually been decided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in assessment with the office of the President of India to reschedule the Polio vaccination day, also known as National Immunisation Day (NID) or ‘Polio Ravivar’ to January 31, 2021 (Sunday),” Centre said in a statement.

On Saturday, the government is anticipating to administer at least the very first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to all healthcare workers, estimated at one crore, over the next two months and start with frontline workers too. “We should be able to total three crore healthcare and frontline workers over next 3 months,” an authorities was estimated as stating in a media report.

The government has indicated that the vaccination programme may continue for approximately a year and even more.