The Center today launched inactivated polio vaccine, IPV injection as part of the global polio endgame strategy in New Delhi. The vaccine launched by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda is part of next step in India's universal immunization programme to fight against polio in the country. He said it is a historic day and now children will get double protection from polio.<br/><br/>Mr Nadda said it has to be ensured that core and support systems work, along with a robust cold chain system and improved routine immunization. Minister of State for AYUSH and Health & Family Welfare Shripad Yesso Naik was also present at launch.<br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports, this progamme initially will cover six states in the first phase. These states are Uttar Pardesh , Madhya Pardesh , Bihar, Assam, Punjab and Gujarat. By April 2016 center will switch to IPV. IPV will be used alongside the oral polio vaccine to kill the polio virus. Babies getting their third dose of oral polio vaccine will now also be administered an injection with inactivated polio vaccine, as part of India's efforts to boost its polio immunization programme. India was certified polio-free on 27 March 2014, but the immunization programme continues in the country since two of its neighbours, Pakistan and Afghanistan, remain polio-endemic and due to the threat of vaccine-derived polio.