ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), led by the Government of Pakistan, has successfully concluded its second nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026, reaching more than 44.8 million children across the country.
The campaign marked another important step in Pakistan’s final push to stop poliovirus transmission, with strong coordination between national and provincial teams ensuring access to 99 percent of households, including those in remote and high-risk areas.
More than 400,000 frontline workers were mobilized for door-to-door vaccination across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
According to official figures, Punjab vaccinated 23.03 million children, Sindh 10.4 million, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 7.22 million, and Balochistan 2.62 million. Islamabad recorded 441,000 vaccinations, while Gilgit-Baltistan reached 292,000 children and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 717,000.
Community acceptance showed further improvement, with refusal rates remaining below 0.15 percent, reflecting growing public trust and continued engagement with families and community leaders. Officials said this marks a 20 percent reduction in refusals compared to the February 2025 national campaign.
Efforts to reach every child were strengthened through post-campaign follow-ups and targeted outreach, resulting in 90 percent of previously missed children being vaccinated. Most missed cases were attributed to temporary absence, population movement, and limited access in hard-to-reach areas.
The PEI reaffirmed its commitment to ending poliovirus transmission through sustained high-quality campaigns, enhanced surveillance, and community engagement. The next subnational polio vaccination campaign is scheduled for the end of May 2026.
