ISLAMABAD – Pakistan kicked off its first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026 on Monday, marking a critical step in the battle against the crippling disease. Running from February 2 to 8, the drive aims to immunize over 45 million children across the country, according to the National Emergency Operations Center.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, inaugurated the campaign in Islamabad, with representatives from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) in attendance. Speaking at the launch event, Farooq emphasized that polio eradication remains a top government priority. ‘This campaign is absolutely vital for completely eliminating the disease,’ she declared.
Pakistan is one of the few countries where polio remains endemic, prompting intensified vaccination efforts nationwide. Over 400,000 health workers and volunteers will fan out door-to-door, administering oral polio drops and conducting awareness activities to ensure maximum coverage.
Polio, a highly infectious viral disease, attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis within hours. Transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route, it spreads from person to person, often via contaminated water or food. The virus thrives in the intestines, with early symptoms including fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness, and limb pain.
In one out of every 200 infections, the virus leads to irreversible paralysis, typically affecting the legs. Among those paralyzed, 5-10% succumb due to respiratory muscle failure. Children under five are most vulnerable, though anyone unvaccinated can contract it.
There is no cure for polio, but prevention is possible through vaccination. Multiple doses of oral polio vaccine or inactivated polio vaccine provide lifelong protection. Both types are safe, effective, and used in combinations tailored to local conditions worldwide.
This ambitious campaign underscores Pakistan’s renewed commitment to wipe out polio, protecting future generations from its devastating effects. Success here could pave the way for the world to be polio-free.