A week-long polio vaccination campaign is underway in Balochistan, Pakistan, targeting 585,490 children aged 4 to 59 months in a crucial effort to eradicate the disease. The campaign, launched July 28 by the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Balochistan, focuses on 123 high-risk union councils across the province, including Quetta, Pishin, Chaman, Dera Bugti, Duki, Zhob, and Qila Abdullah. These areas were identified due to recent poliovirus detections or low immunization coverage.
The intensified campaign will utilize a combination of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) drops and the fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV). The fIPV injection, particularly beneficial for malnourished or frequently ill children, offers stronger protection than OPV alone. A total of 1,835 vaccination teams have been deployed, supported by strict security measures to ensure the safety of health workers.
“This campaign is vital to our strategy to stop polio transmission and strengthen immunity in vulnerable children,” stated EOC Balochistan Coordinator Inam ul Haq. He urged parents to cooperate fully, emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of both vaccines. The campaign will administer OPV drops to children from birth to 59 months.
“Parents must understand the importance of polio vaccines,” Haq added. “It’s the only way to protect our future generations from permanent disability.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic despite being eradicated from the rest of the world.
