Hyderabad authorities have dismissed five vaccinators from service after uncovering fake vaccination records and gross negligence during the recent anti-polio campaign. The revelation has raised serious concerns about the accuracy of vaccination data and the effectiveness of health supervision mechanisms in the district.
According to Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad, Zainul Abideen, the inquiry was initiated following the death of an eight-month-old girl who was later found to have contracted the polio virus. The investigation revealed that the child, a resident of Preetabad, fell ill on August 18 and was taken to the hospital four days later. Samples collected on August 25 tested positive for the virus, and tragically, the infant passed away on August 28.
The deputy commissioner stated that the district has around 5,000 personnel engaged in the polio eradication drive. During the review, performance assessments revealed that the work of 70 teams—each consisting of three members—was unsatisfactory. Consequently, all underperforming teams were replaced, while five vaccinators were terminated for deliberate negligence and falsification of vaccination entries.
Officials from the Health Department confirmed that two polio cases were reported in 2024, while one case has been recorded in the district so far this year. During the last campaign, the department claimed to have vaccinated over 400,000 children, but the latest findings have called those figures into question.
Health authorities emphasized that strict monitoring and accountability measures are being implemented to ensure transparency in future campaigns. The Hyderabad administration also reiterated its commitment to eradicating polio completely and ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated due to negligence or data manipulation.
