The immunisation of children in the city’s slums has been found to be way below at 60 per cent of the target, according to a survey done by an NGO.

The Child Rights and You’s sample survey found that though the scenario improved in the past few years, 40 per cent of slum children were yet to be brought under the immunisation cover.

The NGO works for the underprivileged children and protection of child rights.

The study said: “Immunisation being one of the most critical components for children’s survival in the first six years, the rate of vaccination in the slums of Kolkata falls short of expectation.”

18 slums covered

The household survey called ‘Are Children Getting A Healthy Start?’ for children in the age-group of one-six revealed that 58 per cent of the children received at least one dose of vaccination. The survey was conducted in 18 slums of Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata.

“There is also a slight gender imbalance in the data: 61.2 per cent boys in the age group of one-three are fully vaccinated, but the rate is 56.5 per cent among the girls,” the study revealed. — PTI