Pakistan recorded over 60,000 cases of polio vaccine refusal during its nationwide anti-polio drive conducted from April 21 to 27, 2025, raising serious concerns about the country’s ongoing eradication efforts.
According to official data, a total of 60,906 refusals were reported, with Sindh accounting for the highest number—39,073 cases, the majority of which came from Karachi alone. Balochistan also reported more than 3,500 refusal cases, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa showed a lower refusal rate of 0.4%.
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Refusals were not limited to these regions, as incidents of parental rejection were also documented in Punjab and Islamabad. Health authorities are alarmed by the persistence of vaccine hesitancy, which poses a major hurdle in Pakistan’s campaign to eliminate polio.
Adding to the concern, Pakistan has confirmed another polio case, bringing the national tally for 2025 to 13. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reported the latest case from the Ama Khel Union Council in the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
