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Arab News
a day ago
- General
- Arab News
Pakistan says 96% of children vaccinated in ongoing anti-polio drive
KARACHI: Polio vaccinations continued across Pakistan for the sixth consecutive day on Saturday, with 96% of targeted children receiving doses during the first five days of the campaign, the country's National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) said in a statement. Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic, alongside neighboring Afghanistan. Efforts to eliminate the disease have been hampered by parental refusals, widespread misinformation and repeated attacks on polio workers by militant groups. In remote and volatile areas, vaccination teams often operate under police protection, though security personnel themselves have also been targeted during these campaigns. 'During the first five days, 96% of children across the country have been administered polio drops,' the NEOC said at the start of the campaign's sixth day. 'The vaccination campaign is underway simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan,' it continued, adding this was to curb cross-border transmission of the virus, especially in frontier regions where mobility between the two countries remains high. According to Pakistani officials, the current vaccination drive aims to reach more than 45 million children nationwide. It is part of Pakistan's intensified response following a sharp uptick in cases last year, when 74 children were diagnosed with the crippling virus. Ten cases have been reported so far in 2025, prompting authorities to step up outreach and door-to-door campaigns. According to the NEOC, provincial breakdowns so far show 97% coverage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 96% in both Punjab and Balochistan, 94% in Sindh, 98% in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 101% in Gilgit-Baltistan, where more children were reached than initially estimated. Islamabad reported 97% coverage. In Balochistan, the country's most underdeveloped province that reported 27 cases last year, local authorities introduced recreational activities such as free swings and camel rides in Quetta to attract children and facilitate their vaccination. The effort drew large crowds, allowing teams to immunize children while they took part in the festivities. 'This initiative is critically important as we enter the high-transmission season,' said Ziaur Rehman, spokesperson for Pakistan's Polio Program. 'It will play a key role in timely containment of the virus.' He urged parents to ensure that all children under five receive polio drops to protect them from lifelong disability.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
Over 36 million children vaccinated as Pakistan anti-polio campaign enters fourth day
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has vaccinated approximately 36.4 million children as the third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year entered its fourth day today, Thursday, the country's polio program said. Around 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 women vaccinators, are driving the campaign launched on Monday to vaccinate 45 million children under the age of five. The drive will conclude on June 1. Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with the completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children, are essential to ensure strong immunity against the disease. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. Pakistan has reported 10 polio cases so far this year, compared to 74 cases in 2024. 'In the first three days, 81 percent of (45 million) children across the country have been vaccinated,' the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) said in a statement. '85 percent in Punjab, 68 percent in Sindh, 86 percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 74 percent of children in Balochistan have been vaccinated.' The report said 63 percent of children were administered polio drops in the federal capital, Islamabad, 93 percent in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 91 percent in Gilgit-Baltistan. In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported around 20,000 polio cases annually but in 2018 the number dropped to eight cases. Six cases were reported in 2023 and only one in 2021. Pakistan's polio program began in 1994, but efforts to eradicate the virus have been repeatedly undermined by vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim that immunization is a foreign plot to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western espionage. Militant groups have also frequently targeted polio vaccination teams and the security personnel assigned to protect them, often resulting in deadly attacks. A Pakistani police officer was killed earlier this week when gunmen opened fire on a team of health workers carrying out a polio vaccination drive in the volatile Balochistan province on the second day of a door-to-door campaign.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
Minister says community engagement essential as Pakistan kicks off nationwide drive against polio
ISLAMABAD: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Monday said community engagement was inevitable in eliminating the polio virus from Pakistan, urging parents to immunize all children under the age of five years. The statement came as Pakistan kicked off a third nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of this year that aims to inoculate over 45 million children, according to the country's polio program. Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with the completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children are essential to ensure strong immunity against the disease. Pakistan has confirmed 10 cases so far this year, according to the polio program. Environmental surveillance has detected the virus in 272 sewage samples from 127 testing sites, across 68 districts, signaling continued circulation. 'Protect your children from permanent disability by vaccinating them,' Kamal urged parents, adding: 'Full-fledged community engagement is essential for the eradication of polio.' The minister called frontline anti-polio workers the 'real heroes' as he administered vaccines to children National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in Islamabad. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. Pakistan's polio program on Sunday described the weeklong campaign as a critical intervention in the country's 'final push' to interrupt poliovirus transmission and achieve eradication by end of 2025. Around 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 women vaccinators, are taking part in the current campaign and will go door-to-door to inoculate children. Pakistan's polio program began in 1994, but efforts to eradicate the virus have been repeatedly undermined by vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim that immunization is a foreign plot to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western espionage. Militant groups have also frequently targeted polio vaccination teams and the security personnel assigned to protect them, often resulting in deadly attacks. The polio program has urged public to cooperate with vaccination teams and report any missed children via the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166 or the WhatsApp Helpline at 0346-7776546.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Year's third polio drive kicks off
A health worker administers polio drops to a child during a door-to-door vaccination campaign amidst heavy snow in the Bakwali-Surgan area of Azad Jammu Kashmir's Neelum Valley, on February 4, 2025. (AFP In continued efforts toward a polio-free Pakistan, the Pakistan Polio Programme launched its third National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign of the year on Sunday at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Islamabad. The campaign was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, alongside members of the Polio Programme's core group and representatives of partner organisations. To mark the launch, Farooq administered oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A drops to children under five, reinforcing the government's unwavering commitment to eradicating the crippling disease from every corner of the country. Scheduled to begin on May 26, the weeklong campaign aims to vaccinate over 45 million children under five, making it a critical intervention in Pakistan's final push to interrupt poliovirus transmission and achieve eradication by the end of 2025. "Polio eradication is not just a health goal — it is a national imperative and a matter of immense pride for our country," Farooq said. "This third campaign of 2025 marks a decisive milestone in our 2-4-6 roadmap. These back-to-back rounds from September 2024 to May 2025 represent our most strategic opportunity to close immunity gaps and halt virus circulation before the high transmission season begins." Farooq acknowledged the persistent challenges in key reservoirs such as Karachi, South K-P and Quetta Block but noted encouraging progress in reaching previously underserved populations. She also extended heartfelt appreciation to the 400,000 frontline workers powering the campaign, including 225,000 female vaccinators and recognised the critical role of civil and military law enforcement in ensuring safe access to children. Despite major gains, wild poliovirus continues to pose a threat. Pakistan has confirmed 10 cases so far this year. Environmental surveillance has detected the virus in 272 sewage samples from 127 testing sites, across 68 districts, signalling continued circulation. Speaking at the event, UNICEF representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, expressed confidence in the programme's direction. As he concluded his tenure in Pakistan, Fadil commended the national leadership and Farooq for their tireless dedication to polio eradication. "Pakistan is closer than ever to making history. With continued political will, community engagement, and coordinated action by all partners, I believe this country can soon achieve a polio-free future," he said. The public is strongly encouraged to cooperate with vaccination teams and report any missed children via the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166 or the WhatsApp Helpline at 0346-7776546.
Arab News
25-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Pakistan launches nationwide polio campaign to immunize over 45 million children
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a third nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of this year that aims to inoculate 45 million children under five, the country's polio program said on Sunday. The campaign was formally inaugurated by Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister's focal person for polio eradication, who administered oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A drops to children under five at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in Islamabad. Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with the completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children are essential to ensure strong immunity against the disease. Pakistan has confirmed 10 cases so far this year, according to the polio program. Environmental surveillance has detected the virus in 272 sewage samples from 127 testing sites, across 68 districts, signaling continued circulation. 'Polio eradication is not just a health goal — it is a national imperative and a matter of immense pride for our country,' Farooq said. 'This third campaign of 2025 marks a decisive milestone in our 2-4-6 roadmap. These back-to-back rounds from September 2024 to May 2025 represent our most strategic opportunity to close immunity gaps and halt virus circulation before the high transmission season begins.' Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. The polio program described the weeklong campaign as a critical intervention in Pakistan's 'final push' to interrupt poliovirus transmission and achieve eradication by end of 2025. Farooq acknowledged persistent challenges in areas such as Karachi, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Quetta, but noted encouraging progress in reaching previously underserved populations. Around 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 woman vaccinators, are powering the campaign, according to the polio program. Speaking at the event, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Abdullah Fadil, who just concluded his tenure, expressed confidence in the program's direction. 'Pakistan is closer than ever to making history. With continued political will, community engagement, and coordinated action by all partners, I believe this country can soon achieve a polio-free future,' he said. Pakistan's polio program began in 1994, but efforts to eradicate the virus have been repeatedly undermined by vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim that immunization is a foreign plot to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western espionage. Militant groups have also frequently targeted polio vaccination teams and the security personnel assigned to protect them, often resulting in deadly attacks. The polio program has urged public to cooperate with vaccination teams and report any missed children via the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166 or the WhatsApp Helpline at 0346-7776546.
