Pakistan successfully completed its latest anti-polio drive, vaccinating more than 44.6 million children across the country from December 15 to 21. The campaign aimed to protect children from the crippling disease and strengthen national polio eradication efforts.
Punjab led the campaign, with approximately 22.9 million children receiving anti-polio drops. Sindh followed, vaccinating around 10.6 million children, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa covered over 7.157 million children. In Balochistan, more than 2.583 million children were vaccinated during the drive.
The anti-polio drive also reached federal territories and regions. Islamabad accounted for over 450,000 vaccinated children, Gilgit-Baltistan around 274,000, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir more than 714,000 children. The National Emergency Operations Center (EOC) thanked parents, civil administration officials, law enforcement, and polio workers for their cooperation, calling the field teams and security personnel “the nation’s real heroes.”
The campaign came in the wake of tragic incidents, including the martyrdom of two individuals, one being a policeman, who were attacked while guarding polio teams in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Local police reported that the anti-polio team was targeted in the Salar Zotangi area, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by frontline workers.
This drive followed the nationwide anti-polio drive conducted in October, which reportedly did not meet its targets. The earlier campaign aimed to vaccinate over 45 million children but saw more than one million children miss vaccination. Challenges included 721,296 children being unavailable and 53,621 cases of vaccine refusal, reflecting the need for continued awareness and outreach.
Authorities emphasized that the recent anti-polio drive demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating polio and protecting children’s health. With improved coordination and security, officials are hopeful that future campaigns will reach all eligible children and achieve nationwide coverage.
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