Pakistan has launched its final polio vaccination campaign of the year, with Health Minister Mustafa Kamal personally administering oral polio drops to children under five, the National Polio Programme announced. The nationwide drive, running from December 15 to 21, 2025, aims to vaccinate 45 million children across the country.
The campaign is part of Pakistan’s long-standing effort to eliminate wild poliovirus, which remains endemic in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan — the only two countries where the virus persists. The continuation of polio in these regions poses a global threat to eradication efforts.
So far this year, Pakistan has reported 30 polio cases. The virus, highly infectious and incurable, can cause lifelong paralysis. Health officials emphasize that repeated oral vaccinations and routine immunization are the only effective preventive measures.
Health Minister Kamal urged parents and caregivers to welcome polio vaccinators into their homes and ensure that every child under five receives the required two drops of vaccine. He also called on communities to advocate for vaccination and create a supportive environment for frontline health workers.
The current drive follows a nationwide measles, rubella, and polio vaccination campaign conducted from November 17–29, 2025, which targeted 22.9 million children in 89 high-risk districts.
Despite progress, Pakistan faces ongoing challenges in polio eradication. Violence and attacks against vaccination teams, particularly in parts of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan, combined with natural disasters such as recent floods, continue to hinder access to children in vulnerable regions.
The country has made remarkable strides since the 1990s when annual polio cases exceeded 20,000. By 2018, cases had dropped to eight per year, thanks to sustained vaccination campaigns and community awareness. However, health authorities warn that without consistent access to all children, particularly in underserved and high-risk areas, complete eradication remains a challenge.
The government emphasizes that parental cooperation, community support, and security for vaccinators are critical to ensuring Pakistan’s success in eliminating polio once and for all.
