Week-long polio vaccination drive starting all over Sindh tomorrow

In a decisive move to curb the resurgence of poliovirus, the Sindh health department in collaboration with the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Sindh and national partners is set to commence a comprehensive polio vaccination campaign from Monday, May 26, with the aim to target more than 10.6 million children under the age of five years across all the 30 districts of the province.

Running until June 1, the week-long initiative would mobilise over 80,000 trained polio workers conducting door-to-door vaccinations, supported by 25,539 law enforcement personnel to ensure the safety and reach of the campaign.

In addition to the oral polio vaccine, children aged between six and 59 months would receive Vitamin A supplements to bolster their immunity.

The campaign gains urgency in light of the recent uptick in polio cases nationwide. As of May 2025, Pakistan has reported 10 confirmed cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), with five cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four in Sindh — in Badin, Larkana, Kamber-Shahdadkot and Thatta districts — and one in Punjab Environmental surveillance has also detected the virus in sewage samples from key urban centres, indicating ongoing transmission risks.

“Polio anywhere is a threat to children everywhere,” stated a spokesperson for the EOC Sindh. “This campaign reflects our commitment to reach every child, even in the hardest-to-reach communities, and to ensure that Pakistan moves closer to eradication.”

The campaign will be active in 1,292 union councils, with district administrations and healthcare partners facilitating the delivery of polio drops and engaging families directly at their doorstep.

Despite significant progress, vaccine hesitancy remains a formidable challenge, particularly in Karachi. Recent data reveals that out of 44,000 polio vaccine refusal cases nationwide, approximately 34,000 took place in Karachi, with 27,000 refusals reported from a couple of Karachi districts alone.

These figures underscore the need for intensified community engagement and public awareness efforts.

To address these concerns, the EOC Sindh has been appealing to the parents, teachers, religious leaders, community elders and media to actively participate in this vital national effort.

Citizens are encouraged to report missed children or seek information about the vaccine by calling the 1166 helpline or sending a WhatsApp message to 0346-777-6546.

The campaign follows two successful vaccination drives conducted earlier this year in February and April, which laid the groundwork for the current initiative. With continued virus circulation in some environmental samples and the recent rise in polio cases, this latest round of vaccinations is crucial to interrupt transmission and protect children from the lifelong consequences of this preventable disease.

The official said the Sindh government and its partners remained steadfast in their commitment to eradicating polio, and recognised that sustained efforts and community cooperation were essential to achieving a polio-free Pakistan.