ISLAMABAD: The first nationwide anti-polio campaign of the year 2025 is going to start in Pakistan tomorrow (Feb 3).
According to the details, the anti-polio drive will continue from February 3 to 9 that will target over 4.54 million children across the country.
Sources privy to the development said that a three-day campaign with two additional catch-up days will be carried out across the country.
A five-day campaign followed by two catch-up days, featuring community-based vaccinations and deployment of special mobile teams will be carried out in the sensitive areas, according to the officials. Over 450,000 workers will be mobilized to make the campaign a success.
Pakistan reported 73 polio cases and collected over 480 polio-positive sewage samples nationwide in last year alone, underscoring the critical need for comprehensive vaccination campaigns.
Earlier, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health also confirmed the detection of the wild poliovirus case type 1 (WPV1) in the country.
Polio
Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure. Multiple doses of oral polio vaccine are essential for all children under five years of age and the completion of the daily vaccination schedule to ensure children have high immunity against the disease. Vaccines are delivered to children’s doors each year, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases in country’s hospitals.
As the year’s first Polio vaccination campaign starts nationwide from February 3- 9, 2025, it is crucial for parents to ensure vaccination for all their children under the age of five to keep them protected against the disease.
Pakistan is one of the few countries around the globe where polio virus is still active. The country has made significant efforts to overcome the disease but still a lot needs to be done.
Progress in curbing polio
In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported around 20,000 polio cases per annum.
In 2018, the country reported only eight cases. In 2019, Pakistan reported 147 cases while in 2020, Pakistan reported 84 such cases. It was in 2021 when Pakistan reported only one case.
In 2022, Pakistan reported 20 cases while in 2023, the country reported six cases.
