DW BUREAU / Mohali Hussan Lal, Principal Secretary, the Health and Family Welfare department on Sunday launched the three-day National Immunization day (NID) drive by administering drops of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to children at a state-level function in District Hospital here. The target is to administer drops to 31,54,172 children in the age group of 0-5 years across the state. There will be booth activity on the first day and house-to-house activity on the second and third day. Speaking at the event, Hussan Lal said that as many as 54,907 vaccinators have been deputed into service across the state whereas a total of 3219 supervisors will carry out sudden checks to monitor the immunization program and to ensure that all children are immunized. There are a total number of 14112 booths across the state and as many as 837 mobile teams have been formed. The Health secretary appealed to the people to get their children vaccinated even if the child is born a few hours ago or is suffering from cough, cold, fever, diarrhoea or any other disease as the polio drops have no harmful effects in these sick children. He said the country is already polio-free; however, the vaccination is must to sustain polio eradication from the country. Pointing out that the government is making all efforts to protect children from diseases; he said the vaccines under the program must reach the last child of the state. He applauded the efforts of thousands of volunteers, frontline workers and health officials for tireless work for keeping the state polio-free. Amongst present on the occasion were Dr. Gurinderbir Singh, Director Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Andesh, Director Family Welfare, State Immunization Officer . (editor@dailyworld.in)