Nationwide Anti-Polio Drive Nears Completion with 97% Coverage

ISLAMABAD: The final day of Pakistan’s nationwide anti-polio campaign is underway with full momentum, according to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), which reported significant progress in the six-day immunization drive.

As per the NEOC’s update on Sunday, 97% of the targeted children across the country have received the polio vaccine. Provincial breakdowns show similarly high coverage rates: Punjab and Sindh reported 97%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reached 98%, and Balochistan matched the national average at 97%.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir also achieved 98% of its immunization goal, while Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan surpassed expectations by administering vaccines to 101% of their estimated child population, thanks to improved outreach and updated data.

The NEOC also confirmed that joint polio eradication efforts with neighboring Afghanistan are progressing smoothly. Parents are being urged to ensure that every child under the age of five receives their polio drops and stays on schedule for routine immunizations.

President Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement marking the campaign’s launch, called on all segments of society—including media, religious scholars, teachers, and community leaders—to help dispel myths and encourage vaccine uptake.

“I urge parents to welcome vaccinators so that every child receives the life-saving polio drops,” said President Zardari. “The polio vaccine is safe, effective, and our best weapon against this debilitating disease.”

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He reiterated his full support for his daughter, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the First Lady, who continues to play a leading role in advocacy and mobilization efforts for a polio-free Pakistan.

The campaign aimed to vaccinate over 45.4 million children under the age of five. With the latest figures, health authorities remain hopeful that Pakistan is edging closer to finally eradicating polio.