KARACHI: Pakistan’s latest nationwide drive against measles, rubella, and polio has entered its final phase, with over 15 million children under the age of five already having received polio drops during the campaign.
According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), the drive running from November 17 to 29 will address the growing concern over rising measles infections and continued circulation of wild poliovirus in high-risk areas.
The campaign is being coordinated by the National Emergency Operations Center (National EOC), which leads Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.
“During the campaign, 35.4 million children are being vaccinated against measles–rubella,” the National EOC said. “In 90 high-risk districts, 19.4 million children are being administered polio drops.”
The Centre reported that more than 15.2 million children received polio drops in the first 10 days of the campaign. Provincial data shows that 4.637 million children were vaccinated in Punjab, 5.219 million in Sindh, 3.553 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1.455 million in Balochistan, 280,000 in Islamabad, and 110,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Vaccinations are being administered through government health facilities, schools, religious seminaries, and temporary outreach centers to ensure coverage in remote and underserved communities.
“Parents are urged to ensure their children receive polio drops in this and every future polio campaign,” the National EOC said. “Protecting the nation’s future from polio is the national responsibility of every individual.”
Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world where poliovirus is still endemic, alongside Afghanistan. Health experts say that sustained campaigns, strengthened surveillance, and community awareness are crucial to achieving the long-sought goal of a polio-free Pakistan.
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine for every child under five during each campaign, alongside timely completion of all routine immunizations.
