Nationwide polio eradication campaign begins today

ISLAMABAD: A five-day nationwide polio eradication campaign commenced on Monday during which 45 million children below five years age will be administered anti-polio vaccine across the country.

This is the first nationwide campaign in the country after its four-month suspension due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The scope of this campaign is much larger and seeks to vaccinate all children under the age of five through door-to-door visits by almost 270,000 vaccinators.

The polio vaccinators have received comprehensive training on vaccinating children safely within the COVID-19 context. This includes thorough prevention measures, such as hand washing, proper use of masks and keeping a safe distance from people during visits. 

The polio eradication programme has put strict measures in place for all staff following the government’s set guidelines on COVID-19 preventative measures.

The nationwide polio campaign coincides with the recent news of Africa being certified as polio-free. Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan are now the only remaining strongholds of the virus in the world.

“With the news of Africa being certified as polio-free, we are also ramping up our efforts to bring us closer to a polio-free Pakistan. We are consistently reviewing our campaign performance and responding to the needs of the communities we interact with in order to improve our outreach and capacity,” said Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health.

“Moreover, we are integrating and synergizing systems and services across our polio and immunization programmes to accrue benefits from their respective assets and opportunities and ultimately strengthen the routine immunization of children,” he added.

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme is planning to conduct back-to-back national vaccination campaigns in the remaining months of 2020 as well. Children will also continue to receive routine immunization services at fixed health centres across the country.