Punjab ready to launch polio vaccination drive on February 2

2026-01-28 - 09:31

Punjab is ready to launch the National Polio Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign on Monday, February 2. The upcoming campaign aims to protect more than 17.8 million children under five years of age across Punjab, reinforcing Pakistan’s final push to interrupt poliovirus transmission. Chief Minister’s Focal Person for Polio, Uzma Kardar, underscored the importance of sustaining these gains, stating: “A child left unvaccinated remains at risk of poliovirus”. She shared that the campaign will continue for seven days in Lahore, while it will be conducted over four days in the remaining districts of Punjab. More than 200,000 trained frontline polio workers will be deployed across the province to ensure that every eligible child receives polio drops during the campaign. “From February 2, our focus is clear—reaching every child without exception. Parents’ trust and community ownership remain the foundation of polio eradication, and the media’s positive and responsible role is pivotal in countering misinformation and strengthening public confidence,” she added. EOC Coordinator, Adeel Tasawur, provided operational insights and detailed epidemiological updates ahead of the campaign. He said that the programme is targeting the poliovirus in its last remaining reservoirs, with special focus on high-risk districts and mobile populations. “Environmental surveillance continues to guide our strategy. In Lahore, five of the six environmental sampling sites have tested negative, while the result from one site is awaited. This trend reflects progress but also underscores the need to maintain high-quality campaigns,” he said. Mr Tasawur further explained that data-driven microplanning, informed by surveillance findings and population movement patterns, is being used to ensure that no child is overlooked. “Our frontline workers are fully prepared, and community dialogue is proving effective in improving access and acceptance, particularly in priority and high-risk areas,” he added. He also noted that real-time monitoring and accountability mechanisms are in place throughout the campaign to ensure transparency, quality, and timely corrective action. Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that mainly affects children under five years of age and can cause irreversible paralysis. There is no cure for polio; however, it can be prevented through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV). Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world where polio is endemic, making sustained, high-quality immunisation campaigns essential to interrupt virus transmission. Children require multiple doses of the polio vaccine to build strong immunity, particularly in areas with high population movement and poor sanitation. Punjab claims significant decline in poliovirus circulation