ISLAMABAD: More than 23.4 million children have been vaccinated against polio during the first five days of the ongoing sub-national immunisation campaign across Pakistan, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (National EOC).
The sixth day of the campaign is underway in 97 selected districts across the country, with health authorities aiming to vaccinate approximately 24 million children before the campaign concludes on November 8.
According to the National EOC, more than 200,000 frontline polio workers are participating in the vaccination drive, which is being conducted simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan to strengthen cross-border efforts against poliovirus transmission.
Provincial vaccination data released by the National EOC shows that more than 9.025 million children have been vaccinated in 13 selected districts of Punjab, while over 6.856 million children have received polio drops in 20 districts of Sindh.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than 4.624 million children have been vaccinated across 27 selected districts, while over 2.169 million children have been immunised in 31 districts of Balochistan.
Meanwhile, more than 450,000 children have received polio drops in Islamabad, over 161,000 children in three selected districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, and approximately 192,000 children in two selected districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The National EOC warned that the threat of poliovirus continues to persist across Pakistan, emphasising that polio remains an incurable disease and vaccination is the only effective means of preventing it.
Health authorities have urged parents and caregivers to ensure that every child under five years of age receives polio drops during the ongoing campaign, regardless of previous vaccination status.
The National EOC also stressed the importance of completing children's routine immunisation schedules to protect them against other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Parents have been requested to cooperate fully with frontline vaccination teams and facilitate their access to eligible children to ensure maximum coverage during the remaining days of the campaign.
The National EOC reiterated its commitment to eliminating poliovirus from Pakistan through sustained vaccination efforts, community engagement and coordinated public health interventions.
For assistance or to contact a polio vaccination team, citizens can call the national polio helpline 1166 or send a WhatsApp message to 03467776546.
The ongoing vaccination campaign will continue until November 8, with authorities urging families to ensure that no eligible child is missed.
