Fri Oct 10 12:46:42 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article:

**Summary:**

Kerala, India is preparing for a nationwide pulse polio immunization drive on Sunday, October 12, 2025, targeting 21,11,010 children under five. Health Minister Veena George will inaugurate the campaign. The Health Department is setting up thousands of booths with volunteers across the state, including mobile booths for migrant workers and tourists, with follow-up home visits planned. While India has been polio-free for over a decade, the drive aims to maintain this status due to the ongoing presence of the virus in neighboring countries.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Gears Up for National Polio Immunization Drive This Sunday**

**Thiruvananthapuram, October 10, 2025** – Kerala is set to participate in a nationwide pulse polio immunization drive this Sunday, October 12, aiming to administer the oral polio vaccine to 21,11,010 children under the age of five. The campaign, a crucial step in maintaining India’s polio-free status, will be inaugurated by Health Minister Veena George at Kozhenchery Government High School in Pathanamthitta district.

The Health Department has meticulously planned a comprehensive strategy to ensure maximum coverage, establishing 22,383 booths across the state, including transit and mobile units. Over 44,766 volunteers will staff these booths, located in schools, anganwadis, hospitals, and public spaces, operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Transit booths at transportation hubs will remain open until 8 p.m.

Recognizing the needs of vulnerable populations, mobile booths will be specifically deployed around migrant labor camps and tourist centers on October 13 and 14 to reach children who may have missed the initial vaccination day. Furthermore, health workers will conduct follow-up home visits to ensure all eligible children receive the vaccine.

While India was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, after the last case was reported in 2011. The threat of resurgence remains due to the ongoing circulation of the wild polio virus in neighboring Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“It is imperative that all parents ensure their children under five years of age receive the oral polio vaccine this Sunday without fail,” urged Minister George, emphasizing the importance of collective action in safeguarding the nation’s children from this debilitating disease.

The pulse polio immunization drive underscores India’s continued commitment to eradicating polio and protecting its future generations.

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