Vaccinate and eradicate

Despite the government’s worthy efforts to counter the polio virus, Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Last year, the country reported 74 polio cases and has already counted seven cases this year. There is a dire need for awareness campaigns to educate parents about the dangers of polio and the need to have their children vaccinated. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five are essential to provide children with high immunity against this terrible disease. The parents across the country should cooperate with anti-polio field teams to ensure that every child is vaccinated.

Mohd Bakhtiyar

Islamabad