Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Sunday launched a statewide health drive, aiming to administer the oral polio vaccine to about 53 lakh children under the age of five.

As a part of the programme, the chief minister along with Health Minister Dr KG Arunraj administered the vaccine to children at Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School in Palavakkam near here.

The National Pulse Polio Immunisation campaign was rolled out across more than 43,000 authorised vaccination centres to safeguard and maintain the state’s polio-free status.

The polio vaccine drive saw a huge mobilisation of resources, with more than two lakh health workers, anganwadi staff, teachers, and volunteers managing operations from 7 am to 5 pm.

Vaccination centers were set up at accessible public hubs, including government hospitals, primary health centres, schools, colleges and anganwadis.

Supporting the launch in the city, Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna inaugurated parallel camps at the Rajamangalam Government Primary Health Centre in Villivakkam and the Ayanavaram Government Maternity and Child Hospital.

To ensure no child was left behind, mobile medical teams navigated remote and hilly terrains, while targeted efforts were made to reach the children of migrant labourers.

Additionally, booths were established at transit hubs like railway stations, bus stands, airports, toll plazas, and check-posts. These transit booths will remain active on June 29 and June 30 to vaccinate children traveling with their families.