The cases of confirmed polyomyelitis of Pakistan by 2025 have reached 10, after the confirmation of the Regional Reference Laboratory of the National Health Institute of two new cases of wild poliovirus in the districts of Lakki Marwat and Bannu of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Of these, five cases are from KP, four from Sindh and one of Punjab.
In spite of the continuous campaigns of high quality polio vaccination throughout the country, the areas in southern KP face significant challenges, including restricted access and difficulties to carry out immunization from home home, which puts thousands of children at risk due to lost vaccines.
In UC Bakhmal Ahmad Zai (Lakki Marwat), the children lost vaccines during the February and April campaigns, creating immunity gaps, while UC Saintanga, Tehsil Wazir (Bannu), has not seen a comprehensive campaign since October 2023.
Additional problems such as the shortage of vaccinators and monitoring gaps have further expanded these immunity gaps.
The third polyomyelitis vaccination campaign throughout the country of 2025 will begin on May 26, aiming at more than 45.4 million children under five in 159 districts, including high -risk areas in southern KP.
