Pakistan is preparing to vaccinate more than 31 million children under the age of five during a major polio campaign scheduled for September 21 to 27.
The campaign will focus on 115 high-risk and polio hotspot districts across the country. Health authorities say the goal is to close gaps in vaccination coverage and strengthen protection against the continued circulation of wild poliovirus.
Campaign to Cover High-Risk Areas
The vaccination drive will take place across selected areas of Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.
More than 273,000 frontline workers are expected to participate in the campaign, helping vaccination teams reach children in communities across the targeted districts.
Officials have urged parents and caregivers to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that every child under five receives polio drops during the campaign.
Health authorities have also emphasized that children should receive the vaccine even if they have been vaccinated during previous campaigns.
Four Polio Cases Reported in 2026
Pakistan continues to face the challenge of wild poliovirus transmission. According to the latest figures cited by the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative, four confirmed wild poliovirus type 1 cases have been reported in the country so far in 2026.
Three cases were detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while one was reported in Sindh. Authorities say continued surveillance and vaccination are necessary to prevent further transmission.
The presence of the virus has also been detected through environmental sampling and surveillance of children with sudden weakness or paralysis, highlighting the need for continued vaccination efforts.
Campaign to Coordinate With Afghanistan
The September campaign will also be synchronized with vaccination activities in neighboring Afghanistan.
Health officials hope coordinated campaigns on both sides of the border will help reduce the risk of the virus moving between the two countries, particularly in areas where people frequently cross the border.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain among the countries where wild poliovirus continues to circulate.
Challenges for Polio Teams
Pakistan's polio eradication efforts have faced several challenges over the years, including vaccine misinformation, refusals and security threats against vaccination workers.
Authorities have repeatedly urged communities to support vaccination teams and avoid spreading false information about polio vaccines.
The government says Pakistan has made significant progress in reducing polio cases compared with previous decades. However, continued detection of the virus means vaccination coverage must remain high to prevent outbreaks.
Parents Urged to Vaccinate Children
Officials are encouraging parents to make sure children under five receive polio drops whenever vaccination teams visit their communities.
The September campaign is being viewed as an important opportunity to reach millions of children in high-risk areas and strengthen population immunity.
For Pakistan, the long-term goal remains the complete eradication of polio. Health authorities say maintaining high vaccination coverage, strengthening surveillance and reaching children in vulnerable communities will be essential to achieving that goal.