Islamabad, A significant polio vaccination campaign has been launched with the goal of immunizing over 8.8 million children under the age of five in 26 districts across Pakistan. The initiative, which commenced today, March 25, 2024, is a response to recent polio outbreaks and aims to address the resurgence of the virus in specific regions of the country.

According to Press Information Department, this polio outbreak response campaign is taking place in 11 districts of Balochistan, seven districts of Sindh, and five districts of Punjab. The campaign was prompted by the detection of polio cases in Dera Bugti and Chaman, as well as the identification of the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in sewage samples from several districts in these provinces.

Federal Secretary for Health Iftikhar Ali Shallwani emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating polio, stating that protecting children from the incurable disease is a top priority. He highlighted the critical nature of the vaccine in preventing lifelong paralysis and appealed to parents in affected districts to ensure their children receive the vaccine.

Dr. Shahzad Baig, Coordinator for the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication, noted that WPV1 has been found in 71 environmental samples this year, predominantly in Balochistan and Sindh, leading to two children being paralyzed in Balochistan. The current vaccination campaign is strategically timed before the high travel season of Eid to mitigate the virus’s spread as families travel for the holidays.

The Polio Programme’s rapid response system has already facilitated two nationwide campaigns earlier this year, with another vaccination drive planned for the end of April, indicating the government’s proactive approach to combating the poliovirus and safeguarding the health of Pakistan’s children.