New Delhi, June 30 -- The Union ministry of health and family welfare rolled out a special drive to identify unvaccinated children in high-burden districts to expand the national immunisation coverage, people familiar with the matter said. The drive, called zero dose implementation plan, will target 143 districts in 11 states with a high burden of children who have not received any immunisation dose so far, according to data. "As part of this plan, special immunisation camps are being held to ensure all unvaccinated children are identified and vaccinated. The larger aim is to leave no children unvaccinated," said a senior official, requesting anonymity. In a statement issued on Saturday, the health ministry said that the number of children who have not been immunised - wholly or partially - is steadily decreasing in India. "India's percentage of zero-dose children to the total population has declined from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024, positioning it as a global exemplar in child health, as acknowledged by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation in its 2024 report," read the health ministry statement. India's universal immunisation programme currently covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases and has seen significant expansion. Mission Indradhanush, intensified in 2017 in collaboration with state governments, has vaccinated 54.6 million children and 13.2 million pregnant women, according to government data. Through National Immunisation Days and Sub-National Immunization Days, India has maintained polio-free status since 2014, said the health ministry. As per the UN-MMEIG 2000-2023 report, India's maternal mortality rate stands at 80 per 100,000 live births, reflecting an 86% decline relative to the global reduction of 48% since 1990. As per the UNIGME 2024 report, India achieved a 78% decline in the Under-Five Mortality Rate surpassing the global reduction of 61%, and 70% decline in the Neonatal Mortality Rate compared to 54% globally during 1990 - 2023. "India's antigen-wise immunisation coverage surpasses global averages across all antigens. India's consistent prioritization of the Universal Immunization Program reflects in its disease elimination milestones and focus on last-mile vaccine delivery," read the statement....