Pakistan has successfully vaccinated more than 44.6 million children during its final nationwide anti-polio campaign of 2025, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre. The week-long drive marked a major milestone in the country’s ongoing fight against the crippling disease and reflected intensified efforts by federal and provincial health authorities.
The campaign targeted children under the age of five across all provinces and regions, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Thousands of frontline health workers were deployed to administer oral polio drops, even in hard-to-reach and high-risk areas.
Punjab recorded the highest number of vaccinated children, followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while significant coverage was also achieved in Balochistan. Health officials said special attention was given to districts previously reporting virus circulation, ensuring no child was missed during the final campaign of the year.
The NEOC highlighted that the campaign was conducted alongside synchronized vaccination efforts in Afghanistan. Officials stressed that cross-border coordination remains essential, as Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where wild poliovirus transmission continues.
Despite security challenges and misinformation campaigns in some areas, authorities said strong coordination between health departments and law-enforcement agencies ensured the safety of vaccination teams. Public awareness initiatives also played a key role in encouraging parents to cooperate with polio workers.
Health experts believe the successful completion of the final 2025 drive strengthens Pakistan’s position in the global polio eradication effort. Authorities have urged parents to continue supporting routine immunisation programmes to ensure sustained protection and prevent the virus from resurfacing.
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