Pakistan Launches Final Polio Vaccination Campaign of 2025 to Protect 45 Million Children

Pakistan has rolled out its final nationwide polio vaccination campaign for 2025, aiming to immunise approximately 45 million children under the age of five across the country. Health authorities say this campaign is a critical step in the ongoing effort to eradicate polio and safeguard the most vulnerable children from the debilitating disease.

The campaign, conducted by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in cooperation with provincial health departments, is being carried out door-to-door in both urban and rural communities. Health workers, supported by monitoring teams, are administering oral polio vaccine (OPV) as part of a large-scale outreach strategy designed to reach every eligible child.

Officials have emphasised that continuous vaccination efforts are essential to maintain hard-won gains against polio, particularly in high-risk areas. Pakistan remains one of the few countries in the world where wild poliovirus still circulates, and health experts warn that any gap in immunisation coverage can lead to renewed outbreaks.

Public awareness initiatives have also been launched alongside the campaign to encourage parents and caregivers to ensure that their children receive the vaccine. Community leaders, volunteers, and local influencers are participating in awareness drives to dispel misinformation and emphasize the importance of complete vaccination.

Deputy heads of polio eradication programmes have reiterated that achieving high coverage in the final campaign of the year will boost Pakistan’s chances of meeting eradication milestones and protecting future generations. They also called on communities to cooperate fully with health teams and to prioritise the health and well-being of children.

The nationwide drive reflects Pakistan’s continued commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and underscores the importance of sustained immunisation efforts to eliminate polio permanently.