Punjab Health Minister launched “Mission Intensive Indradhanush” 5.0 in Mohali

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on 11 September launched the ‘Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0’ (IMI 5.0) in Mohali, to ensure vaccination of all sections of the society.

‘Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0’ (IMI 5.0) aimed at overcoming barriers including vaccine hesitancy, myths, and taboos relating to vaccination.

• The event highlighted the importance of vaccinating eligible children and strengthening immunity in the face of existing challenges. A Media Sensitisation Meeting, in collaboration with Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity Project (M-RITE), was also organized along with the launch event.
• As a part of IMI 5.0, the Health Department will focus on overcoming the issues that hindered vaccination coverage and also cover the population that were left out of Routine Immunization efforts.
• The campaign prioritizes children aged 0 to five years who have not received any vaccines, with the ultimate goal of providing life-saving vaccinations to all eligible children. 
• Additionally, it represents a significant step towards nationwide Measles and Rubella elimination, ensuring that every child under five years completes the crucial two-dose schedule of Measles and Rubella Containing Vaccine (MRCV).

What is Mission Indradhanush? 

Mission Indradhanush (MI) was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on 25th December 2014.

• It is a special catch-up campaign under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP), conducted in the areas of low immunization coverage to vaccinate all the children and pregnant women left out or dropped out from Routine Immunization.  
• The initiative's mammoth task is being fulfilled with the support of an integrated and committed task-force, ensuring full immunisation coverage.  

Objective of the Mission

Objective of Mission Indradhanush is to ensure high coverage of children and pregnant women with all available vaccines throughout the country,

• The Universal Immunization Programme provides life-saving vaccines to all children across the country free of cost to protect them against Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts).

NOTE: India’s Immunization programme is one of the largest public health programmes in the world. Launched as an Expanded programme on Immunization in 1978, it was renamed as Universal Immunization programme in 1985 when it was expanded beyond urban areas. 

• The Ministry is being technically supported by WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and other donor partners.