In India's Polio Eradication Programme, the concept of 'Pulse Polio Immunisation (PPI)' is based on which epidemiological principle?

• A Achieving individual protection through high vaccine efficacy
• B Eliminating polio in high-risk districts before generalizing to the entire country
• C Preventing adverse events by spacing multiple vaccine doses apart
• D Interrupting wild poliovirus transmission by rapidly achieving very high population immunity ✓

Explanation

Pulse Polio Immunisation operates on the herd immunity principle: by simultaneously vaccinating a very large proportion of children under 5 years on specific 'pulse' days (National Immunisation Days), the transmission chain of wild poliovirus is interrupted even before all children can be reached through routine services. Simultaneous mass immunization creates a sudden, massive rise in population immunity, making it impossible for the virus to find susceptible hosts. India achieved polio-free certification in 2014.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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