Polio-eradication campaign concludes in Lahore: Over 2.2m children vaccinated in six days

LAHORE: The polio eradication campaign has concluded in Lahore, with more than 2.2 million children administered polio vaccine drops over six days. Data from the seventh day of the campaign is currently being entered into the system.

According to the Punjab Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the campaign was conducted in 10 districts of Punjab, with activities concluding in nine districts. Based on the data received so far, the campaign has achieved 98 percent coverage. The coverage rate is expected to increase further once complete data from Lahore is received.

The campaign was conducted in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Attock, Mianwali, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur. The campaign in three districts was postponed.

Punjab EOC Coordinator Khalid Parvaiz said the campaign was part of sustained efforts to protect every child under five years of age against poliovirus and prevent its spread. He appreciated the dedication and hard work of frontline polio workers and acknowledged the cooperation extended by parents throughout the campaign.

Parvaiz emphasized that while the campaign had concluded, the work to eradicate polio was far from over. He urged parents to ensure that their children receive polio vaccine drops during every campaign, stressing that consistent vaccination is essential to protecting children and achieving a polio-free Pakistan.

He said that environmental surveillance findings underscore the need for continued vigilance, as the risk of poliovirus transmission and reintroduction remains.

Although environmental samples collected across Punjab have remained negative in 2026, the province remains vulnerable to the importation of the virus from other areas. Sustained vaccination efforts and effective surveillance are therefore critical to safeguarding the progress made.

The EOC Coordinator stressed that the programme would continue to focus on reaching missed and high-risk children, particularly those living in mobile and migrant communities and other hard-to-reach areas. He called for continued cooperation among parents, health authorities, frontline workers and community influencers to ensure that every eligible child is vaccinated.

The Punjab EOC will undertake a detailed review of the complete campaign data to assess key performance indicators, evaluate coverage and conduct a comparative analysis of children who missed vaccination. The findings will help identify coverage gaps and inform follow-up efforts to reach children who may have been missed.

Parvaiz reiterated the Punjab government’s commitment to sustaining polio eradication efforts until every child is protected and Pakistan achieves the goal of a polio-free future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026