♦ The National Vaccination Day is observed every year on March 16 to remind ourselves about the importance of getting vaccinated.

♦ Vaccination is a powerful way to prevent serious diseases and is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

♦ India gave its first dose of oral polio vaccination to its citizens on 16 March 1995.

♦ It was also the day when the country celebrated its very first National Immunization Day.

♦ This oral polio vaccination was an integral part of the government’s Pulse Polio Programme, which was planned to eradicate polio from the nation.

♦ To achieve this, the plan included vaccinating hundreds of children every day. Years later, the WHO announced India was polio-free on 27 March 2014.