Pakistan launches national polio vaccination drive

26/5/2025 6:12

Pakistan launched its third National Polio Vaccination Campaign of 2025 on Sunday to immunize more than 45 million children under the age of 5 against polio, said the health ministry.

Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq emphasized the national significance of polio eradication during an inauguration event, described it as a "matter of immense pride" and outlined a roadmap to interrupt virus transmission and achieve eradication by the end of 2025.

"This campaign is a decisive milestone to achieve the complete eradication of the disease," said Farooq, highlighting the campaign's role in closing immunity gaps and halting virus circulation ahead of the high transmission season.

So far this year, Pakistan has reported 10 polio cases, with environmental surveillance detecting the virus in 272 sewage samples from 127 testing sites across 68 districts, underscoring the continued threat, added the ministry.