Pakistan launches the final vaccination campaign against polio to protect 45 million children

Pakistan has begun its fifth polio vaccination campaign of the year, aiming to protect over 45 million children, following the reporting of 30 cases of illness since 2025. The Minister of Health, Mustafa Kamal, emphasized the importance of parents' cooperation with vaccination teams, warning that each case of polio threatens the future of children and the safety of communities.

Over 400,000 health workers are involved in the campaign, going door to door to ensure the vaccination of all children. Vaccination campaigns face attacks from militants, who spread false theories about the sterilization of Muslim children. Thousands of police officers are mobilized to protect vaccination teams, following warnings about possible attacks. The December campaign is coordinated with that in Afghanistan, both countries aiming to interrupt the transmission of the polio virus. According to WHO, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where polio has not been eradicated.