Islamabad: In response to two new polio cases reported in Sindh, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme is urgently calling for repeated vaccinations to protect children from the debilitating effects of the virus. These latest cases, which have brought the total number for the year to 26, were identified in children from the Karachi East and Sujawal districts.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the presence of the poliovirus in environmental samples from these areas had previously signaled an ongoing risk. This revelation underscores the critical need for continuous vaccination efforts to safeguard children’s health against polio, which has no cure and causes permanent paralysis.

The programme’s focal person, Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, emphasized the devastating impact of polio and the essential role of vaccines in preventing the disease. She called on parents, educators, and community leaders to ensure all children receive the necessary vaccinations to build a robust defense against the virus.

The national strategy to halt the virus’s spread includes a comprehensive roadmap aiming to interrupt transmission by mid-2025. This plan involves improving vaccination campaign quality, increasing community engagement, and ensuring that mobile and migrant populations are immunized. Last month’s mass vaccination campaign reached 33 million children, and another is scheduled to start on October 28.

Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Center for Polio Eradication, highlighted the collaborative efforts needed to eradicate polio across all provinces, stressing the importance of community participation in upcoming vaccination drives.