Pakistan has launched its final nationwide polio vaccination campaign for 2025, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under five. The seven-day drive, running from December 15 to 21, will see more than 400,000 polio workers administering oral vaccine drops across the country. This effort is critical to controlling polio transmission.
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal inaugurated the campaign at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). He administered drops to children, including the son of NEOC Coordinator Muhammad Anwarul Haq. Kamal emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting every child from polio, a global and regional health risk.
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The campaign targets high-risk areas, mobile populations, migrants, and border communities where the virus persists. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has reduced annual cases by 99.6% since 1994. However, 30 polio cases have been reported this year, with over half in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Kamal urged parents, caregivers, and community leaders to cooperate by ensuring all children are vaccinated. The campaign will reach 23 million children in Punjab, 10 million in Sindh, and millions more across other regions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
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This drive is synchronized with a similar campaign in Afghanistan to stop cross-border transmission. Both countries aim to protect children from polio and work toward a polio-free future. Cooperation from the public and local leaders is crucial to its success.