Over 60,000 Polio Vaccine Refusals Reported in Pakistan’s April Drive, Raising Alarm Among Health Authorities

Authorities continue to urge parents to vaccinate their children during campaigns and at routine clinics

By DTD- On Jul 1, 2025

Islamabad: Pakistan continues to battle serious hurdles in its mission to eradicate polio, as more than 60,000 polio vaccine refusals were recorded during the country’s second nationwide anti-polio campaign held from April 21 to 27, 2025, according to ARY News, citing official sources.

A staggering 60,906 cases of refusal were documented during the week-long drive aimed at immunizing children under five years of age. The highest concentration of refusals was reported in Sindh province, where 39,073 cases emerged—over 37,000 of them in Karachi alone. Health officials say the figures are alarming and pose a critical risk to the national polio eradication strategy.

Other provinces also reported concerning numbers. Balochistan documented more than 3,500 refusal cases, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported a refusal rate of 0.4%. Cases of vaccine refusal were also recorded in Punjab and Islamabad, reflecting a nationwide challenge in combating vaccine hesitancy.

Despite these setbacks, the Pakistan Polio Program continues its efforts to reach every child. The campaign includes door-to-door vaccination drives, while the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) provides routine vaccines against 12 childhood diseases, including polio, free of charge at health facilities.

Adding to concerns, Pakistan reported another new polio case last week, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in 2025 to 13. The National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed that the latest case emerged from Ama Khel Union Council in Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Polio is a crippling, incurable disease, preventable only through multiple doses of oral polio vaccine and the completion of routine immunization schedules. Health experts warn that every refusal not only puts a child at risk but also endangers community immunity, especially in high-risk areas.

Authorities continue to urge parents to vaccinate their children during campaigns and at routine clinics, emphasizing that timely immunization is the only way to protect future generations from a disease that still threatens lives in Pakistan.