Catch-up polio drive in high risk areas from Saturday
The Sindh Government, in collaboration with its partners, has launched a targeted polio vaccination campaign. The first phase, which begins today (Saturday) will focus on 27 high-risk union councils in Karachi. The campaign aims to strengthen children's immunity and curb the transmission of the polio virus.
In this first phase, 562,163 children under the age of five will receive the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), while 521,953 children aged four months to under five years will receive the Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) using painless jet injector technology.
As Pakistan's largest and most densely populated city, Karachi remains a critical battleground in the fight against polio. The city's frequent population movement contributes to the persistent presence of the polio virus in environmental samples. Despite repeated vaccination efforts, transmission risks remain high, making targeted campaigns essential to closing immunity gaps and protecting children from lifelong paralysis.
The use of painless jet injector technology for fIPV administration ensures a needle-free, stress-free experience for children. The combination of OPV and fIPV further strengthens immunity, offering additional protection in areas where the virus continues to circulate. Recently, in August 2024, a successful f-IPV campaign was conducted in the megalopolis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Eradication of polio: Top paediatricians, major hospitals join hands
LAHORE: In a major step toward eradicating polio from Pakistan, leading paediatricians and major hospitals across Punjab have partnered with the Punjab Government and Punjab Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in support of the upcoming National Polio Vaccination Campaign, commencing today (Monday), May 26. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 23 million children under the age of five, with the help of more than 200,000 polio workers. The campaign will run for 7 days in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad, while in other districts, the drive will continue for 5 days. Renowned paediatricians from key hospitals in Lahore and beyond have voiced their strong support for the campaign and the critical role of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) in building herd immunity and protecting children against lifelong paralysis. 'We are proud to stand with the Punjab government in this national effort,' said Dr Shahzad Haider, a senior paediatrician at Defence Hospital, Lahore. 'Oral Polio Vaccine is safe, effective, and essential to developing community-level immunity. Every child must be vaccinated in every campaign to ensure we close the immunity gap.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Express Tribune
Pakistan reports third polio case of 2025 in Sindh
Listen to article Pakistan has confirmed its third case of wild polio virus Type 1 in 2025, with the latest case reported from the Larkana district in Sindh province. This marks the second polio case in Sindh this year, bringing the total number of cases in the province to two, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has reported one case, Express News reported. According to the Polio Eradication Programme, 74 polio cases were reported across the country in 2024, with the highest number from Balochistan (27 cases), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (22 cases), Sindh (23 cases), and one each from Punjab and Islamabad. The first nationwide polio campaign of 2025, held from February 3 to 9, successfully reached 99% of its targets, vaccinating over 45 million children against the virus. Currently, Pakistan is in the midst of its second round of catch-up activities, focusing on administering EPI antigens to children under the age of five. In line with the Pakistan Polio Programme, a fractional IPV-OPV polio campaign is being launched in the Quetta Division and Karachi on February 20 and 22, aiming to vaccinate approximately 1 million children. Despite these ongoing efforts, the country continues to face challenges in eliminating the virus, with cases emerging in different regions, underlining the need for continued vigilance and vaccination drives
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Express Tribune
Catch-up polio drive in high risk areas from Saturday
The Sindh Government, in collaboration with its partners, has launched a targeted polio vaccination campaign. The first phase, which begins today (Saturday) will focus on 27 high-risk union councils in Karachi. The campaign aims to strengthen children's immunity and curb the transmission of the polio virus. In this first phase, 562,163 children under the age of five will receive the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), while 521,953 children aged four months to under five years will receive the Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) using painless jet injector technology. As Pakistan's largest and most densely populated city, Karachi remains a critical battleground in the fight against polio. The city's frequent population movement contributes to the persistent presence of the polio virus in environmental samples. Despite repeated vaccination efforts, transmission risks remain high, making targeted campaigns essential to closing immunity gaps and protecting children from lifelong paralysis. The use of painless jet injector technology for fIPV administration ensures a needle-free, stress-free experience for children. The combination of OPV and fIPV further strengthens immunity, offering additional protection in areas where the virus continues to circulate. Recently, in August 2024, a successful f-IPV campaign was conducted in the megalopolis.
