Pakistan will launch its first nationwide anti-polio campaign of 2025 from February 3 to 9, targeting more than 4.54 million children across the country, as reported by national media on Monday.
According to sources, the drive will include a three-day campaign with two additional catch-up days in general areas and a five-day campaign in sensitive regions, supported by two catch-up days. Community-based vaccinations and special mobile teams will be deployed for these efforts, with over 450,000 workers mobilized for the campaign.
In 2024, Pakistan reported 73 polio cases and over 480 polio-positive sewage samples, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing vaccination initiatives. Polio is a crippling disease with no cure, making multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine crucial.
Ensuring the completion of the vaccination schedule for all children under five is essential to provide them with immunity against the disease. The Pakistan Polio Program conducts regular mass vaccination drives, bringing the vaccine directly to children’s doorsteps.
Additionally, the Expanded Program on Immunization offers free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases at health facilities. Polio is a debilitating disease with no known cure. To protect children from this devastating disease, it is crucial for them to receive multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and complete the regular vaccination schedule, especially for all children under the age of five, to ensure they have strong immunity.
