Pakistan begins last anti-polio vaccination drive of 2025 after surge in new cases

Pakistan has commenced its final nationwide polio immunization effort for 2025, aiming to vaccinate 45 million children following a recent increase in reported cases of the disease. Government officials confirmed the launch of the campaign on Monday.

This initiative marks Pakistan's fifth nationwide vaccination drive this year. These campaigns are regularly conducted despite ongoing security concerns. The country, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains one of only two nations where polio has yet to be completely eradicated, according to the World Health Organization.

So far this year, Pakistan has recorded 30 cases of polio, a decrease from the 74 cases reported during the same period in the previous year, according to the Polio Eradication Initiative, a government program.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has urged parents to fully cooperate with the vaccination teams. He emphasized the critical nature of the situation, stating that each new case poses a threat to a child's future and the overall safety of communities.

Over 400,000 frontline health workers are participating in the campaign, going door-to-door across various regions including Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Islamabad. Their goal is to ensure that every child receives the vaccine.

Due to the persistent threat of militant attacks, authorities have deployed thousands of police officers to safeguard the vaccination teams. Militants have a history of targeting vaccination workers and their security escorts, falsely alleging that these campaigns are part of a Western plot to sterilize Muslim children. Since the 1990s, over 200 polio workers and police officers protecting them have been killed in such attacks.

The government statement also noted that this December's polio campaign is synchronized with efforts in Afghanistan. This coordinated approach is intended to enhance immunity in both countries and prevent the cross-border transmission of the virus.

Officials stated that Pakistan has made considerable progress in its efforts to control the spread of polio. The campaign is seen as a crucial final push to eliminate the virus from all remaining areas where it continues to circulate, bringing the country closer than ever to achieving complete eradication.