Health Ministry will launch Intensified Mission Indradhanush to accelerate immunization coverage to meet its target of full immunization coverage by 2018. <br/><br/>The Ministry will give greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage. According to the plan, States will conduct Intensified Mission Indradhanush drives for 7 working days from 7th day of every month starting from 7th October this year for four consecutive months. <br/><br/>A total of 118 districts, 17 urban areas and 52 districts of North East states will be targeted under Intensified Mission Indradhanush. The Ministry said, intensive monitoring and strong accountability mechanism is being established at all levels with Cabinet Secretary at national level and the Chief Secretary at state level. <br/><br/>Universal Immunization Programme of India prevents mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine preventable diseases. <br/><br/>The Ministry said, in the past, it has been seen that the increase in immunization coverage had slowed down and it increased at the rate of one per cent per year between 2009 and 2013. The first two phases of Mission Indradhanush led to an increase of 6.7 per cent full immunization coverage in 1 year. <br/><br/>This increase has been more prominent in rural areas as compared to urban areas.