Pakistan has launched its third nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of the year, aiming to immunize 45 million children under the age of five. The weeklong campaign, described by officials as a critical intervention in the country’s final push against polio, was inaugurated on Sunday at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in Islamabad.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, formally kicked off the campaign by administering oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A drops to children. She emphasized the importance of continued efforts, calling polio eradication a “national imperative and a matter of immense pride for our country.”
So far in 2025, Pakistan has reported 10 polio cases. Environmental surveillance has detected the virus in 272 sewage samples across 127 testing sites in 68 districts, highlighting the ongoing circulation of poliovirus. Health officials say this campaign is part of the country’s 2-4-6 roadmap aimed at halting virus transmission before the high-risk season begins. Around 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 female vaccinators, are participating in the drive.
According to officials, the campaign focuses particularly on areas where reaching children has historically been challenging, such as Karachi, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Quetta. Farooq noted progress in gaining access to these previously underserved populations.
UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Abdullah Fadil, speaking at the launch event, expressed optimism about the country’s direction. Having just concluded his tenure, he praised the coordination and commitment among stakeholders and stated, “Pakistan is closer than ever to making history. With continued political will, community engagement, and coordinated action by all partners, I believe this country can soon achieve a polio-free future.”
Polio, a paralyzing disease with no cure, requires multiple doses of the oral vaccine and adherence to the routine immunization schedule to ensure strong immunity. Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of only two countries where polio is still endemic.
