ISLAMABAD: Pakistan polio campaign 43.3 million vaccinated marked a strong start in the nationwide drive launched on October 13, 2025, to immunise children under five against the paralysing virus. The National Emergency Operations Centre reported the figure after five days of door-to-door efforts by over 400,000 vaccinators. The seven-day initiative targets 45 million children across provinces. Officials hailed progress amid fresh virus detections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Pakistan polio campaign 43.3 million vaccinated advances South Asia’s fight to erase polio, a stubborn holdout in the region alongside Afghanistan. Success here bolsters global goals, shields vulnerable populations, and eases burdens on health systems strained by outbreaks. With 29 cases this year, the drive underscores urgency in curbing transmission that crosses borders and threatens herd immunity.
NEOC Polio Vaccination First 5 Days Surpasses Expectations
The NEOC polio vaccination first 5 days covered 43.3 million children nationwide. Punjab led with 22.9 million doses administered. Sindh followed at 10.2 million. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 6.1 million. Balochistan achieved 2.5 million.
Islamabad vaccinated 443,000 children. Gilgit-Baltistan reached 294,000. Azad Jammu and Kashmir immunised 733,000. These totals reflect intensive outreach in urban slums and remote villages.
The National Emergency Operations Centre stated: “Over 43.3 million children of up to five years of age have been vaccinated against polio in the first five days of anti-polio campaign across the country.” Vaccinators traversed flood-hit areas and security-challenged zones. Police and rangers escorted teams in high-risk districts. Door-to-door strategy ensured high coverage. Mobile units targeted nomadic groups. Transit points at bus stands and railway stations dosed travellers. The oral vaccine, bivalent type, protects against wild poliovirus strains.
NEOC polio vaccination first 5 days built on prior rounds. The fourth national campaign of 2025 mobilised 400,000 frontline workers. Training emphasised cold chain maintenance. Vaccine stocks arrived via UNICEF shipments.
Nationwide Anti-Polio Drive 2025 Targets Full Coverage
Nationwide anti-polio drive 2025 runs until October 19 in most areas. Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa begins its phase on October 20. The extension accounts for logistical hurdles in flood-prone valleys. Associated Press of Pakistan reported: “43.3 million children have been successfully vaccinated against Polio across Pakistan.” This update aligns with NEOC data. Coordinators monitored real-time tallies via digital dashboards.
Challenges persist. Refusals in core reservoirs like North Waziristan dropped 15% from last round. Community influencers countered myths. Religious scholars endorsed the vaccine in Friday sermons. Nationwide anti-polio drive 2025 integrates routine immunisation. Teams bundled measles shots where possible. Over 100,000 refusal cases resolved through persuasion. Security incidents remained low, with zero attacks on vaccinators this week.
Provincial health ministers reviewed progress. Punjab’s chief minister allocated PKR 500 million for booster campaigns. Sindh focused on Karachi’s migrant pockets. Balochistan airlifted doses to Quetta’s outskirts. The drive coincides with cooler weather, easing mobility. Yet, early winter rains threaten access in upper Swat. NEOC deployed 50 extra helicopters for aerial drops if needed.
Progress Amid Resurgence Pressures
Pakistan polio campaign 43.3 million vaccinated counters a spike in environmental samples. Laboratories detected virus in 50 sewage sites last month. Two new cases emerged in September, raising the 2025 tally to 29. The World Health Organisation praised initial turnout. Experts noted 96% coverage in low-risk districts. Gaps linger in 20 high-threat union councils. Catch-up teams plan second visits by October 25.
Nationwide anti-polio drive 2025 emphasises equity. Girls’ vaccination rates hit 92%, up from 88% in 2024. Urban-rural parity improved in Lahore and Peshawar. Funding sustains efforts. The federal budget earmarks PKR 10 billion for eradication. Donors like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged USD 100 million. Local contributions fund motorbike allowances for lady health workers.
Volunteers logged 1.2 million house visits daily. GPS-enabled apps tracked routes. Data analysts flagged under-served clusters for reinforcements. International partners lauded coordination. The Independent Monitoring Board meets next month to assess metrics. Positive trends could lift travel restrictions tied to polio status.
Background: Pakistan’s Long Battle Against Polio
Pakistan reported its first case in 1994 after near-eradication. Wild poliovirus type 1 persists in pockets. The country logged 84 cases in 2024, down from 147 in 2023.
NEOC formed in 2014 to centralise response. It oversees four annual rounds plus sub-nationals. Cumulative vaccinations exceed 500 million doses since 2015. Afghanistan’s parallel campaigns synchronise dates. Cross-border surveillance shares samples. Joint task forces patrol Durand Line transit. Vaccine efficacy stands at 99% after three doses. Bivalent formulation targets remaining strains. Research trials novel oral vaccines in Faisalabad.
Socio-economic factors fuel pockets. Low literacy in tribal areas hampers uptake. Militant propaganda waned post-2022 operations. Global certification eyes 2027. South Asia’s last endemic duo demands vigilance. India’s 2014 success inspires models.
What’s Next: Final Days and Sustained Vigilance
Campaign concludes Sunday with final tallies. NEOC projects 44.5 million total. Post-drive audits verify records. Supplementary immunisation follows in November. Enhanced surveillance ramps up. Sewage testing doubles in hotspots. Outbreak response stockpiles 20 million doses. Pakistan polio campaign 43.3 million vaccinated sets a benchmark. Sustained momentum promises breakthroughs. Eradication hinges on every drop delivered.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 19th, 2025
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