In brief
On Nov. 2, Pakistan’s National Emergency Operations Center began a sub‑national polio campaign targeting roughly 24 million children under five across 97 districts. Over 200,000 frontline teams will conduct door‑to‑door vaccinations until Nov. 8, while the effort runs concurrently with Afghanistan’s own drive. NEOC urged parents to make sure all eligible children receive repeated doses to boost immunity.
On Monday, Nov. 2, the Pakistani government launched a sub‑national polio vaccination drive aimed at immunising about 24 million children under five in 97 selected districts. The campaign was announced by the National Emergency Operations Center, or NEOC, which will run until Nov. 8.
According to NEOC, the country has mobilised more than 200,000 frontline workers who will conduct door‑to‑door inoculations in the targeted districts. These teams are expected to visit each household to administer the polio drops, ensuring that children receive the full schedule of doses.
The NEOC also highlighted that Pakistan is coordinating its efforts with neighboring Afghanistan, which is conducting a polio vaccination campaign at the same time. Both countries aim to reduce the circulation of the disease in the region by vaccinating children in hard‑to‑reach areas.
In its statement, NEOC urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams and to ensure that all children under the age of five receive the polio shots. The centre emphasized that repeated doses are crucial for strengthening children’s immunity against the disease.
This nationwide initiative follows years of effort to eradicate polio in Pakistan, a country that has historically struggled with widespread outbreaks. By deploying a large workforce and synchronising with Afghanistan’s program, the campaign seeks to secure the last remaining footholds of the virus in the region.