Barmer, Nov. 24 -- Chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Sunday launched a Sub-National Pulse Polio Campaign in the state by administering polio drops to children at his residence, officials said. Officials said Rajasthan has heightened surveillance and expanded vaccination efforts across border districts after recent confirmed polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Jaisalmer CMHO Dr. Rajendra Paliwal said, "This year, a polio-positive case was detected in Afghanistan on July 25 and another in Pakistan on August 2. Therefore, special vigilance is being maintained, especially in the border districts." He added the polio vaccine remains vital for protecting children from permanent paralysis and death, and continued vaccination is essential despite India maintaining polio-free status since 2014. "This is not just a campaign; it is a step towards securing the future of the coming generations," the chief minister said, stressing that two drops of the vaccine can protect children from a potentially fatal disease. 58,823 polio booths have been set up for the campaign. On Sunday, children were administered the vaccine at these booths, while health workers will conduct door-to-door visits over the next two days to reach those who missed booth vaccination. Barmer and Jaisalmer administered polio drops to children aged 0 to 5 years. Jaisalmer aims to immunize 131,577 children, while Barmer targets 248,397. The health department has appealed to all parents to ensure that every child under the age of five receives polio drops during each round of the campaign, regardless of previous vaccinations, as regular doses are essential for lifelong protection....