Pakistan's Polio Fight: 45 Million Children Vaccinated in Nationwide Campaign
Pakistan's polio eradication drive targets 45 million children.
Top Summary
- What happened: Pakistan conducted its first national polio vaccination campaign of 2026 from February 2-8, reaching 45 million children.
- Why it matters: Polio remains a threat, and vaccination is crucial to prevent paralysis and death, especially in endemic countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- What changes for people: Increased protection from polio for vaccinated children, contributing to the global effort to eradicate the disease.
- Who is affected: 45 million children under five in Pakistan, and the hundreds of thousands of polio workers involved in the vaccination campaigns.
The Frontline Warriors Against Polio
400,000 polio frontline workers, trained and mobilized by the WHO and Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative, went door-to-door to administer the vaccine.
Rabia, a polio worker from Upper Chitral, exemplifies their dedication:
"We climb mountains and walk through the snow for hours with great difficulty...Yet we do not give up. We reach our assigned area to vaccinate all children and protect them from polio."
These workers face challenging conditions to reach every child.
Pakistan's Progress and the Global Goal
Pakistan has made significant strides in polio eradication, reducing cases by 99.8% since the early 1990s.
From an estimated 20,000 cases, the country reported only 31 cases in 2025.
Experts believe that ending wild polio in Pakistan and worldwide is achievable with intensified efforts.
Vaccination: A Safe and Effective Shield
The WHO-prequalified polio vaccines are safe and effective.
They have been used in 195 countries to protect millions from this debilitating disease.
Vaccination is the only way to prevent polio, which has no cure.
Personal Sacrifices for a Polio-Free Future
Momina, another polio worker in Upper Chitral, stated:
"I thank Allah that I have gotten this opportunity to serve and I am trying my best to eradicate polio in my country."
Zeenat, working in Rawalpindi, emphasized the importance of vaccination:
"This disease has no cure. I want all parents in the country to vaccinate their children with polio drops so they don’t fall prey to paralysis."
These dedicated individuals demonstrate unwavering commitment.
WHO's Role in Pakistan's Polio Eradication
The WHO provides technical and operational assistance to Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative, launched in 1994.
This includes:
- Science- and evidence-based vaccination campaigns
- Training and deployment of polio workers
- Outbreak response
- Poliovirus surveillance and monitoring
WHO also supports the evaluation of vaccination drives.
Global Support for Polio Eradication
In 2024–25, WHO polio operations in Pakistan were supported by contributions from various countries and organizations, including:
- Pakistan
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- France
- Canada
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Germany
- United States of America
- The Gates Foundation
- Rotary International
Carrying Hope, Two Drops at a Time
Neelum, a polio worker from Rawalpindi, highlights the importance of the vaccine:
"The vaccine is very important for children in Pakistan because polio can infect children and paralyze them...This is why we go house-to-house to vaccinate them so that no child is paralyzed."
The dedication of these workers offers hope for a polio-free future.
What to Watch Next
Continued monitoring of polio cases and vaccination coverage will be crucial in the coming months. Sustained international support and community engagement will also be vital to achieving complete polio eradication in Pakistan and Afghanistan.