Pakistan Launches Nationwide Polio Drive to Vaccinate 45 Million Children

ISLAMABAD: With Pakistan’s polio crisis intensifying, officials on Sunday urged parents to vaccinate their children as the country prepares for a nationwide anti-polio campaign starting October 28. Pakistan has seen a concerning resurgence in polio cases, reporting 41 new cases this year alone, marking a setback in its efforts against the disease.

Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic. The vaccination drive, which runs from October 28 to November 3, aims to reach over 45 million children under five years old, according to the Pakistan Polio Program.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s focal person for polio eradication, stressed the importance of parents’ cooperation in ensuring their children’s protection, saying, “It’s crucial that parents make sure their young ones receive this vaccine.”

The recent surge in cases underlines the ongoing struggle to secure past progress made against polio since 2018.