Administering oral polio vaccines to children
Explanation
The Pulse Polio Programme is a mass immunization campaign established by the Government of India to eliminate poliomyelitis (polio) in India by vaccinating all children under the age of five years against the poliovirus.
Option Analysis
- Administering antibiotics to infants is incorrect: Polio is a viral disease caused by the poliovirus. Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections, not viral diseases.
- Administering oral polio vaccines to children is correct: The primary objective of the Pulse Polio Programme is to administer Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) to all children in the age group of 0–5 years. This ensures herd immunity and breaks the transmission chain of the virus.
- Controlling mosquito vectors is incorrect: Polio is transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route (contaminated water or food), not through mosquito vectors. Vector control is associated with diseases like Malaria or Dengue.
- Providing nutritional supplements is incorrect: While nutritional supplements are provided under schemes like the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the specific mandate of the Pulse Polio Programme is immunization.
Key Takeaway: The Pulse Polio Initiative aims to eradicate poliomyelitis through the mass administration of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children under five years of age. India was declared polio-free by the WHO in 2014.