ISLAMABAD:
The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has announced that the national polio vaccination drive will begin from Monday (today) in 159 districts of the country.
According to the NEOC, during the week-long campaign, more than 45.4 million children under five years of age will receive oral polio vaccine drops.
In addition to the polio vaccine, children will also receive vitamin A supplements to help boost their immunity.
The national campaign will be held from October 13 to 19, while in southern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the campaign will be held from October 20 to 23, the NEOC said.
More than 400,000 health workers will go door-to-door to ensure all eligible children receive the vaccine.
The NEOC urged parents to ensure that all children under five years of age are vaccinated against polio and that routine vaccination courses for children up to 15 months are completed on time.
The polio eradication campaign is part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to eliminate this crippling disease and protect all children from permanent disability.
Despite significant progress in recent years, Pakistan remains one of the few countries in the world where polio continues to cripple children, and health authorities warn that continued vigilance and public cooperation are essential to stopping transmission.
