Pakistan Launches Final Polio Vaccination Campaign of 2024

Pakistan has initiated its last nationwide polio vaccination campaign for 2024, targeting 45 million children amid rising cases, Arab News reported. Since January, the country has reported 63 confirmed polio cases, with Pakistan and Afghanistan being the only nations where the virus remains endemic.

The campaign, which runs until December 22, is supported by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who emphasized the country’s commitment to eradicating polio. Ayesha Raza Farooq, adviser for the polio eradication program, urged communities to welcome health workers into their homes.

Despite the ongoing efforts, vaccination teams face significant risks, including violence from militants who oppose the campaigns. Recently, gunmen attacked police escorting polio workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the death of a police officer and injuries to a health worker. Over 200 health workers and police have been killed since the 1990s, highlighting the dangers involved in the fight against polio in the region.