Countrywide polio vaccination drive kicks off

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2026) Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative has launched its second nationwide vaccination campaign of the year to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five across the country.

According to official sources, from April 13 to 19, over 400,000 frontline health workers will go door-to-door across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad, ensuring every child is reached, including those in the most remote and high-risk areas.

Vitamin A supplements will also be administered during the campaign to further strengthen and build children’s overall health and immunity.

In addition, the campaign is being conducted in synchronisation with Afghanistan, supporting coordinated efforts to stop the spread of the virus across the border.

Pakistan has made significant progress. In 2026, poliovirus has been detected in 23 of 87 districts, compared to 82 districts in 2025.

The number of positive environmental samples has also dropped sharply, from 651 in 2025 to 40 so far in 2026.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. Pakistan reported 31 polio cases in 2025, and one case has been confirmed so far in 2026 from Sujawal, Sindh.

These cases serve as a reminder that as long as the virus exists anywhere, children in Pakistan remain at risk.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, said, "Pakistan is closer than ever to ending polio, but this is also the most critical stage."

She said,"Polio causes lifelong disability and has no cure, but it can be prevented. This campaign is about ensuring every child under five receives two drops to help close remaining gaps and reach the finish line.”

Protecting every child through vaccination is the safest and most effective way to stop the virus.

The Government of Pakistan urged parents and caregivers to support vaccination teams and ensure every child under five receives polio drops during this and every campaign.