Question

Pulse polio immunization involves vaccination of all children between the ages of ___
A) 5 to 10 years
B) 0 to 5 years
C) 1 to 9 years
D) 10 to 15 year

Answer 1

Hint: Polio stands for poliomyelitis and it is a very contagious disease. In fewer cases, it progresses and affects the central nervous system (CNS) and causes muscle weakness leading to paralysis. Mostly it affects the legs but can also affect the muscles of the head, neck, and diaphragm.

Complete answer:
The campaign for Polio free India was started by the government of India in 1995 and was named "Pulse polio immunization" to eradicate poliomyelitis by 2000 in India. Despite the efforts of the Indian government, few children still develop or get poliomyelitis.
So, what is "pulse" in pulse polio immunization? Here the pulse means providing oral polio vaccine simultaneously to a mass population in one day. This pulse polio vaccination is carried out on two National Immunization Days in the winter season, separated by six weeks. The main aim of pulse polio vaccination is to interrupt the transmission of the wild poliovirus that affects children. Why is polio vaccination given to children majorly? It is because polio is a very contagious disease that could lead to paralysis and it usually affects children under the age of 5.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Note:
Due to this pulse polio vaccination, India has become the largest polio-endemic country in the world. India has faced some obstacles while carrying out the pulse polio vaccination project such as lack of awareness about pulse polio vaccination, polio, myths about the vaccine, concerns about side effects of vaccination. Poliovirus can be spread by food or water containing human feces or by infected saliva. It can be detected by detecting antibodies against it.