Pakistan launches major vaccination campaign
Pakistan on Monday launched a two-week, nationwide vaccination campaign aimed at reaching more than 57 million children to curb rising cases of measles, rubella and polio, the country’s National Emergency Operations Center said. The drive runs through Nov. 29.
The campaign will deliver measles and rubella vaccines to 34.5 million children and administer oral polio drops to 23.3 million. The rollout follows training by the World Health Organization for over 140,000 health workers who will support vaccination teams across the country.
Why this matters
Measles often begins with a high fever and a rash that typically spreads from the face down to the neck and body. While most children recover, measles remains a leading cause of death among young children worldwide, according to WHO. Over the past three years, Pakistan has reported more than 131,000 measles cases — a figure that underscores the urgency of the campaign.
WHO: Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus continues to circulate.
Since January, Pakistan has recorded 30 new polio cases, a setback in efforts to eradicate the crippling, potentially paralyzing virus. Polio vaccination campaigns in Pakistan often face violent resistance: militants have repeatedly attacked vaccinators and the police who protect them, and have spread false claims that vaccination is a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
Tragically, more than 200 polio workers and police assigned to protect them have been killed since the 1990s. Authorities say the current campaign balances urgency with enhanced security and community outreach to increase coverage and protect health teams.
What officials hope to achieve
Officials say the synchronized campaign aims to reduce disease spread, close immunity gaps left by missed immunizations, and reinforce routine vaccination services. International partners, including WHO, will continue to support logistics, training and surveillance throughout the two-week effort.
