Pakistan has launched its final nationwide anti-polio drive for 2025, aiming to vaccinate more than 45 million children. The campaign started on Monday and will continue until December 21.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) said the seven-day drive covers all provinces and territories. In Punjab, over 23 million children are set to receive polio drops, while Sindh will vaccinate more than 10.6 million children.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the campaign targets over 7.2 million children, and more than 2.6 million children will be vaccinated in Balochistan. Islamabad will cover over 460,000 children, Gilgit-Baltistan more than 228,000, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir around 760,000 children.
Local police reported an incident in the Salar Zotangi area of Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where an anti-polio drive team was reportedly targeted. Authorities have assured enhanced security measures for health workers participating in the campaign.
Earlier, the nationwide anti-polio drive held in October 2025 fell short of targets. The campaign, which ran from October 13 to 19, aimed to vaccinate over 45 million children. However, 1,096,525 children missed the vaccine. Among them, 721,296 were unavailable, while 53,621 children were reported as vaccine refusals.
Health officials have urged parents to ensure their children receive polio drops during this final campaign. Authorities stress that vaccination is crucial to prevent the spread of polio and protect children from lifelong disabilities.
The EOC continues to coordinate with provincial health departments to monitor progress and ensure the success of the anti-polio drive, emphasizing safety, awareness, and full coverage across all regions.
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