A State Task Force Meeting on Immunization on Routine Immunization cum Measles and Rubella Elimination was held under the chairmanship of Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Asangla Imti, NCS at IDSP Hall, Department of Health and Family Welfare on Monday, a DIPR report stated.

State Immunization Officer (SIO) presented the status of the routine immunization of the state, percentage of zero dose children, dropout rates and the reasons for drop outs; objectives for Measles and Rubella (MR) elimination campaign and the district wise targets for MR elimination.

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Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) highlighted the operational challenges to achieve immunization coverage and requested support from the allied department from achieving the goal of no child left behind for vaccination from vaccine preventable diseases.

Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Asangla Imti, NCS commented on need of a dedicated cell to monitor convergence between the allied departments to assess, review and evaluate for course correction. On this note, dedicated cell under MD, NHM was decided to be established for monthly review to identify gaps and suggestions for closure. SIO, representatives from development partners and Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) monitoring team will be part of this cell along with other relevant stakeholders.

Convergence between allied department of Social Welfare, NSRLM, School Education and DoHFW for mobilization of caregivers to ensure children take up the due doses of the Routine Immunization vaccines and towards support for MR Elimination campaign for which letter of convergence from respective nodal department will be shared with the District/Block/Village units.

Support from School Education towards Td (Tetanus-Diphtheria) injections for 10 years and 16 years age groups as part of convergence with Health Department was discussed. The meeting also discussed that Anganwadi centres to be used as immunization centre at least once a month as part of convergence and VHND formats to be used for monitoring by the DTFI.