More than 30 million children under the age of five years were vaccinated in 128 districts across the country during the week-long sub-national polio eradication campaign of Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme that concluded on Sunday.

The polio eradication campaign which was started on October 26, covered areas 33 districts of Punjab, 33 districts of Balochistan, 41 districts of Sindh, eight districts of Gilgit Baltistan, 10 districts of AJK and one district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said an official of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme.

He said that during this campaign more than 210,000 frontline workers visited door to door to protect children from this crippling disease.

The vaccinators continued to adhere to stringent COVID-19 preventative operating procedures as they did in the campaigns conducted in July, August and September, the official added.

Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, Dr Rana Safdar said “While we may have not achieved zero cases, the programme has been able to secure the future of millions of children by continued vaccination.”

He said “Despite multiple challenges, our frontline workers remain committed and are the real heroes. World’s eyes are focused on Pakistan and the government is committed to eradicate polio virus from the country.”

Dr Rana Safdar said now it’s up to the parents and society as a whole to vaccinate their children and open doors to front line workers to get rid of not only the polio but all other vaccine preventable diseases.