Pakistan launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign on Monday, targeting over 28 million children under five amid a surge in cases and heightened risks in flood-affected regions. The drive, covering 99 districts including Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the federal capital, involves more than 240,000 healthcare professionals.
Officials stressed the increased vulnerability to polio and other illnesses in areas impacted by floods, urging parents to ensure their children receive the vital polio drops in each round. The urgency stems from two new poliovirus cases recently confirmed in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), bringing the national total for 2025 to 23.
KP alone accounts for 15 of these cases, followed by six in Sindh, one in Punjab, and one in Gilgit-Baltistan. The province launched the first phase of its campaign in 19 districts, aiming to vaccinate over 5.7 million children, with a second phase scheduled for September 15.
Polio, a highly contagious and irreversible disease leading to paralysis, can only be effectively prevented through multiple doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and timely routine immunizations. Health authorities expressed serious concern over the continued detection of the virus, particularly in southern KP, pointing to inadequate vaccination coverage in remote areas and communities with low vaccine acceptance.
They emphasized the shared responsibility of polio eradication, urging community support for vaccination initiatives, combating misinformation, and promoting wider involvement. While frontline workers administer the vaccine, parents and guardians must ensure their offspring receive every dose.