Pakistan’s Anti-Polio Drive Misses Key Targets, Leaving Thousands Unvaccinated

Despite continuous national efforts, Pakistan’s latest polio campaign failed to meet its vaccination goals. Reports revealed that hundreds of thousands of children across the country remained unvaccinated during the recent anti-polio drive. The sub-national campaign took place from September 1 to 7 in 81 districts and achieved 98 percent of its overall target.

Regional Coverage and Results

Gilgit-Baltistan led the campaign with an impressive 101 percent coverage, exceeding its target. Punjab, however, recorded the lowest at 97 percent. Islamabad achieved 98 percent coverage, while Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Azad Kashmir reported similar figures. These results may look encouraging on paper, but thousands of children still missed out on vital protection.
According to officials, around 422,152 children nationwide were not vaccinated. Of these, nearly 355,000 children were unavailable during the campaign, while 19,403 missed vaccination due to security challenges and local boycotts. As a result, health teams struggled to reach every child, particularly in high-risk areas.

Provinces Struggle to Reach Every Child

Sindh recorded the highest number of unvaccinated children, with 216,881 missing the vaccine. Punjab followed with 82,792, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 68,529, and Balochistan with 47,335. In Islamabad, 5,098 children missed their drops, while 647 in Azad Kashmir and 870 in Gilgit-Baltistan were also left out.
Officials also noted that nearly 47,793 boycott-related cases were reported nationwide. These figures highlight ongoing challenges such as misinformation, limited access, and community resistance. Therefore, experts emphasize the need for stronger outreach programs, better awareness campaigns, and improved coordination among health workers to ensure that every child receives essential protection against polio.