60% of Children Affected by Polio This Year Had Not Received Routine Vaccination: Health Ministry

Islamabad: According to the Ministry of Health, 60% of children affected by polio cases reported this year had not received any routine immunization vaccines, leading to increased severity of the disease.
This year, the total number of reported polio cases in the country has reached 59. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the last two countries in the world where the polio epidemic has not been eradicated. The disease primarily affects children under the age of five and can result in lifelong paralysis.
In a report by the state-run news agency APP, the first steering committee meeting to improve the vaccination program for children was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharth, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health. The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary of Health, Director-General of Health, WHO and UNICEF heads, CDC strategic advisors, and the health directors-general of all four provinces.
During the meeting, the National Immunization Program and Polio Program provided an update on the current situation and ongoing measures. It was revealed that 60% of the children reported with polio this year had not received any routine immunization, which contributed to the increased severity of the disease in these children.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharth instructed both federal and provincial health authorities to take immediate action to address the situation. He emphasized that the delivery of all vaccines, including for polio, must be ensured for every child. He further stated that joint strategies should be developed between the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and the Polio Program in polio-affected districts. Polio workers will be tasked with identifying children who have missed their vaccinations during the upcoming campaigns.
Dr. Bharth also directed that EPI vaccinators be responsible for completing the vaccination course for these children. The government of Pakistan will use all available resources to protect children from infectious diseases, and it remains committed to eradicating polio from the country.
The meeting also highlighted that both Dr. Bharth and the Federal Secretary of Health would monitor the implementation of these actions.
Japan Announces $3.1 Million Grant for Polio Eradication Efforts
In related news, Japan has announced a grant of $3.1 million to support Pakistan’s efforts in polio eradication, continuing its support since 1996. This funding will be used to purchase over 2 million doses of the polio vaccine, which will aid next year’s polio eradication campaigns.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio, stated that the challenges in 2024 underscore the importance of accelerating polio eradication efforts. She emphasized that Japan’s continued support has strengthened Pakistan’s resolve to intensify its efforts, with the goal of zero polio cases by mid-2025.