Malkangiri: The vaccination drive against the Japanese Encephalitis that has so far claimed over 120 children’s lives in Malkangiri district began here today.
District Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarty inaugurated the drive at the IMST School here at 8.15 AM. The programme would be carried out from 8 AM to 3 PM everyday for 15 days. A total 175 teams have been formed for this.
Total 2,18,027 children aged between 1 and 15 years have been identified for the vaccination. In the first phase, schools having larger number of students would be covered. The teams would later visit other schools and houses in the district to give the vaccine. While school teachers have been given the task to monitor the programme, senior officials would ensure coverage of cent percent children in the vaccination.
The Collector said, "Eleven emergency teams are also kept ready at the district headquarters. Control rooms have also been opened at block and district levels to monitor them. Besides, 23 ILR points have been set up."