An estimated 70 lakh children under five years of age were administered oral polio vaccines during the first phase of the Intensive Pulse Polio Immunisation campaign on Sunday. The only untoward incident was reported at Pudukottai where a two-year-old boy died shortly after being administered the drops.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi launched the State-wide campaign at his Gopalapuram residence.

Ministers M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Durai Murugan and Veerapandi S. Arumugam launched the drive at different places in the State.

An official press release said that a total of 40,399 immunisation booths had been set up in government hospitals, primary health centres, health sub-centres and noon meal centres.

Transit booths also functioned at railway stations, bus stands, airports and places of worship. Mobile teams were pressed in to reach out to the remote and inaccessible areas, it said. A mapping exercise was done to cover the migratory population, including Sri Lankan refugees, it said. About two lakh personnel, including anganwadi workers and volunteers from NGOs, were engaged in the campaign.

In Pudukottai, a two-year old boy P. Vijay died shortly after being administered the oral polio vaccine. A team of Health officials led by S. Ezhilarasan, Joint Director of Health, and K. Madhivanan, Deputy Director of Health, inspected the vaccination centre.

The child was said to have been suffering from fever and respiratory problems over the past few days and Health Department officials said that the death was not due to the vaccination.

A. Suganthi, District Collector, who rushed to the spot and also met the bereaved family members, said that the condition of all the other children who were administered the drops at the centre was normal. The second phase of the campaign will be held on February 7.