Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launches Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0

Credit: PIB

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 3.0 which will be conducted in two rounds starting from February 22 and March 22 across 250 districts/urban areas identified in 29 States/Union Territories.

The Union Minister also launched the IMI 3.0 portal and released the Operational Guidelines for it and the awareness material/IEC package developed as part of the campaign.

IMI 3.0 is an initiative by the government to provide immunization free of cost to pregnant women and children in India. To strengthen and re-energize the programme and achieve full immunization coverage for all children and pregnant women at a rapid pace, the Government of India launched “Mission Indradhanush” in December 2014.

According to a release by the Union Health Ministry, Vardhan expressed his elation at the elaborate preparations to immunise every mother and child: The Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 will have two rounds starting from February 22 and March 22, 2021, and will be conducted in pre-identified 250 districts/urban areas across 29 States/UTs in the country.

"#IntensifiedMissionIndradhanush 3.0 launched today by @drharshvardhan, Union Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Government of India," it said.

#IntensifiedMissionIndradhanush 3.0 launched today by @drharshvardhan, Union Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. #SwasthaBharat @PMOIndia @AshwiniKChoubey @PIB_India @WHOSEARO pic.twitter.com/Ulk7vp9BfH — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 19, 2021

Expanding on the role of the campaign in the context of the present COVID crisis, he said, "The country has successfully been able to contain COVID19 and the drive for two indigenous vaccines is being carried out in the country. 

With this, the importance of a vaccine has never been so strongly felt. Every year the Universal Immunization Programme caters to the vaccination needs of 2.65 crore children and 2.9 crore pregnant women against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases."

On the massive push to provide affordable health to the last citizen, the minister observed, "Implementing large campaigns like Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 3.0 even during the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine is a clear indication of India's health system getting stronger day by day. 

Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 (IMI 3.0) aimed to reach the unreached population with all the available vaccines under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) and thereby accelerate the full immunization and complete immunization coverage of children and pregnant women."He also detailed the provisions in the Budget that lays high priority on health and wellbeing.