Last 2025 anti-polio nationwide drive to start from Dec 15

Pakistan will start the last nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of 2025, targeting 45 million children next week, the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) said on Monday, reported 4NewsHD TV channel.

In a statement, the NEOC said that over 400,000 health workers will perform their duties during the upcoming Dec. 15-21 nationwide polio vaccination campaign.

Health authorities aim to vaccinate 23 million children in Punjab, 10.6 million in Sindh, over 7.2 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 2.6 million in Balochistan, more than 460,000 in Islamabad, over 228,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and more than 760,000 children in Pakistan-administered Kashmir during the seven-day campaign, it added.

Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus remains endemic.

Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine for every child under five during each campaign, alongside timely completion of all routine immunisations.

“Parents are urged to cooperate with polio workers and ensure their children are vaccinated,” the NEOC said. “Complete the routine immunisation schedule for all children up to 15 months of age on time.”

Reporter: Babar Shehzad Turk