ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign starting today (Monday) to protect millions of children from the crippling disease.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) said the week-long campaign will cover 159 districts, aiming to vaccinate more than 45.4 million children under the age of five.
Children will also receive Vitamin A supplements to help boost their immunity. The campaign will run from October 13 to 19, while in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it will be held from October 20 to 23.
Read More: PureHealth Launches AI Mental Health Services Across UAE
More than 400,000 health workers will go door-to-door to ensure that every child receives the vaccine. The NEOC urged parents to make sure all children under five are vaccinated and that routine immunisations are completed on time.
Pakistan has reported 29 polio cases so far in 2025 — 18 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 9 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Last year, 74 cases were recorded nationwide. Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic, along with Afghanistan.
Health officials say vaccination is the only way to prevent polio, as the disease has no cure and can cause lifelong paralysis in children.