Pakistan begins last anti-polio vaccination drive of the year after surge in new cases

Pakistani health authorities launched the final nationwide polio vaccination drive of 2024 on Monday, targeting 45 million children as the country continues its fight against the debilitating disease. This campaign marks the fifth national immunization effort this year, reflecting Pakistan’s determination to eradicate polio despite ongoing security challenges.

According to officials from the government-run Polio Eradication Initiative, Pakistan has recorded 30 polio cases since January, a significant improvement from the 74 cases reported during the same period last year. This decline represents substantial progress in the country’s battle against the disease.

“This is not just about numbers. Each case threatens a child’s future and the safety of our communities,” Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said, urging parents to cooperate with vaccination teams as they go door-to-door across the nation.

The massive logistical operation involves more than 400,000 front-line health workers fanning out across all regions of Pakistan, including Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and the capital, Islamabad. These workers face the challenging task of ensuring no child is missed in the vaccination campaign.

Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts have been complicated by persistent security threats. Militants have repeatedly targeted vaccination workers and their police escorts, propagating false claims that immunization campaigns are Western plots to sterilize Muslim children. These dangerous conspiracy theories have hampered public health initiatives for decades.

In response to intelligence reports warning of potential militant attacks, authorities have deployed thousands of police officers to protect vaccination teams. The security situation remains a significant concern, as more than 200 polio workers and police officers assigned to protect them have been killed in targeted attacks since the 1990s.

This December campaign is being synchronized with neighboring Afghanistan, the only other country in the world where polio remains endemic, according to the World Health Organization. This coordinated approach aims to boost immunity in both nations simultaneously and interrupt cross-border transmission of the virus, which has proven crucial for regional containment efforts.

Pakistan’s polio situation represents a critical global health challenge. Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis and even death. It primarily affects children under five years of age, making widespread vaccination essential for protecting vulnerable populations.

Despite the obstacles, Pakistani officials remain optimistic about their progress. “We are closer than ever to achieving eradication, and this campaign represents a vital final push to stop the virus everywhere it still circulates,” the government statement noted.

The country’s improved polio statistics reflect years of determined efforts by health workers, international organizations like WHO and UNICEF, and government initiatives. These campaigns have continued despite political instability, economic challenges, and natural disasters that have periodically disrupted Pakistan’s healthcare system.

Public health experts consider polio eradication in Pakistan and Afghanistan as the final frontier in the global effort to eliminate the disease. Successful immunization campaigns in these two remaining endemic countries would represent a historic achievement in international public health, comparable to the eradication of smallpox in 1980.

As the final vaccination drive of 2024 proceeds, health officials are emphasizing the importance of reaching every eligible child, particularly in remote areas where healthcare access remains limited and vaccine hesitancy can be pronounced.