Pakistan will carry out its first nationwide anti-polio campaign of the year starting February 2, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children, the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) announced on Wednesday.
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only countries where the wild poliovirus continues to circulate, posing a threat to global eradication efforts. The virus, which can cause irreversible paralysis, has no cure and can only be prevented through repeated oral vaccination.
The NEOC highlighted the success of last year’s campaigns, noting that six nationwide drives in 2025 helped reduce polio cases from 74 in 2024 to 30 in 2025.
“During the campaign, over 45 million children will be administered polio drops,” the NEOC said, emphasizing the importance of community involvement, religious leaders, and media support in increasing public confidence in the program.
The authority urged parents to cooperate with polio teams and ensure their children receive the vaccine. NEOC officials stressed that strong government leadership and effective institutional collaboration remain vital to eradication efforts.
However, insecurity continues to challenge vaccination drives. Polio workers and their security escorts have repeatedly been targeted in militant attacks, particularly in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. A recent gun attack on a polio team in Bajaur district killed one police constable and a civilian.
Natural disasters, including flooding, have also disrupted campaigns in recent years, making the consistent reach of vaccination teams even more critical.
