Anti-polio vaccination drive begins across Pakistan today

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-polio vaccine Drive began on Monday across the country to provide polio drops to over 45 million children under the age of five years.

The Polio teams will go door to door to provide the vaccination to the children in a week long campaign, starting from April 21 to April 27, with more than 400,000 male and female health workers participating across the country.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially launched the campaign by providing polio drops to a child here in Lahore on Sunday.

2.76 million children will receive the drops in Karachi, with over 5,000 security personnel deployed to ensure the safety of the polio teams. With 11,000 medical teams participating, the campaign reaches 2.66 million children in Balochistan.

In North Waziristan, the drive was delayed because of the curfew and will now start on April 22. DHO Dr. Kaleem Ullah stated that all logistical and security preparations are in place for the campaign’s restart.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) advised parents to welcome polio teams into their homes, noting that “each additional dose further strengthens the child’s immune system.” The EOC also noted a discernible drop in the poliovirus presence due to ongoing initiatives.

Pakistan’s dedication to eliminating polio and protecting the health and future of its next generation is demonstrated by this national initiative.