A special polio vaccination campaign is underway across 13 districts of Punjab, targeting more than 10 million children under the age of 5 years, according to Punjab Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Khalid Parvaiz. The initiative was confirmed during an exclusive interview with Radio Pakistan’s correspondent Qasim Bukhari, following the campaign’s launch on Monday.
Target Districts and Campaign Timeline for Punjab Polio Drive
The vaccination drive is actively operating in Dera Ghazi Khan, Lahore, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura, Attock, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Kasur, and Mianwali, according to Khalid Parvaiz. The effort covers both entire and targeted areas across these 13 districts. Regarding the schedule, the Punjab EOC Coordinator stated that vaccination activities in Lahore will continue for seven days through September 27, while operations in the other 12 targeted districts are slated for four days.
Operational Capacity and High-Risk Focus Areas
The program has deployed more than 77,000 polio workers alongside a total of 39,774 mobile, fixed, and transit teams to administer drops. According to Khalid Parvaiz, ensuring access to the polio vaccine for every child under five remains the foremost priority of the initiative. Field teams are directing special attention toward high-risk areas and locations characterized by significant population movement to guarantee that no child is missed during the sweep.
Next Steps and Parental Cooperation
As field operations proceed through their scheduled timelines, the Punjab EOC Coordinator has urged parents to fully cooperate with the arriving vaccination teams. Ensuring that all children under five receive their polio drops during this active window is critical for maintaining the program’s momentum.