KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has expressed concern over the persistent issue of polio vaccine hesitancy and refusals, which continue to undermine polio eradication efforts, especially in Karachi and Hyderabad. Many parents in these cities are reportedly refusing to allow their children to receive the oral polio vaccine (OPV).

According to Chief Minister Sindh, during the launch of the polio eradication campaign at SMB Fatima Jinnah School Garden, West, Shah was accompanied by cabinet members, including Syed Sardar Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, and Zulfiqar Shah, as well as Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab. The event marked the start of a week-long campaign aiming to provide OPV to 10.6 million children under the age of five across 30 districts of Sindh. Additionally, 9.5 million children aged 6 months to 5 years will receive Vitamin A supplements to enhance their immunity.

Murad Shah emphasized that vaccine hesitancy and refusals are significant barriers to polio eradication in Pakistan, with Karachi facing the highest rate of refusals, accounting for 85 percent of all refusals in Sindh. In response, the government has initiated the deployment of support teams and engaged parliamentarians, local council committees, and UC-level local bodies to bolster the vaccination campaign.

With 41 polio cases reported in Pakistan this year, including 12 in Sindh, the urgency of the campaign is critical. The presence of positive environmental samples in Karachi and other areas indicates ongoing virus circulation, underscoring the importance of the vaccination drive.

To address these challenges, 81,000 frontline workers will conduct door-to-door visits to ensure every eligible child receives the vaccine. Approximately 19,000 security personnel will be deployed to protect the polio workers and facilitate a smooth campaign.

The Chief Minister urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams to protect their children from polio, highlighting that repeated vaccination rounds are essential to building immunity. For those who miss the vaccination during the campaign, assistance is available through the Emergency Operations Centre’s Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166 or WhatsApp Helpline 0346-7776546.