Question : MISSION INDRA DHANUSH

(a) whether the Government has launched ``Mission Indra Dhanush`` with an aim to cover all those children who are unvaccinated;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the features of the Mission;

(c) whether any target is fixed to vaccinate children every year and to attain full coverage;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the plans of special vaccination campaigns;

(e) whether the Government has sought technical support from various external agencies to achieve the goals of this programme; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) & (b): Yes, the Government has launched “Mission Indradhanush” on 25th December, 2014 with an aim to cover all those children who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. Mission Indradhanush will be a nationwide programme with the special focus on 201 high focus districts. These districts account for nearly 50% of the total partially vaccinated or unvaccinated children in the country.

Mission Indradhanush will provide immunization against seven life-threatening diseases (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepa- titis B). In addition, vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenzae type B will be provided in selected districts/states of the country. Vaccination against tetanus will be provided to the pregnant women.

(c) & (d): The Mission focuses on interventions to rapidly increase full immunization coverage of children by approximately 5% annually and to expand full immuni- zation coverage from 65% in 2014 to at least 90% children in the next five years.

Four special vaccination campaigns will be conducted between March and June 2015 and this will cover all children under two years of age and pregnant women for tetanus toxoid vaccine. This immunization campaign will be conducted for a period of 7-10 days every month for four consecutive months.

(e) & (f): Yes, the Government has sought technical support from various external agencies like WHO, UNICEF and Rotary to achieve the goals of this programme.