Pakistan begins 2nd anti-polio vaccination campaign of 2025

Campaign aims to protect 45 million children from polio; PM says govt is making tireless efforts to eliminate the virus once and for all, extends heartfelt thanks to international partners for their support

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Pakistan began on Monday a week-long second nationwide vaccination campaign aimed at protecting 45 million children from polio, officials said.

According to the World Health Organisation, Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where the potentially fatal, paralysing virus hasn't been stopped.

Since January, Pakistan has reported only six polio cases. Last year, the South Asian country witnessed a surge in polio cases, which jumped to 74, though it reported only one polio case in 2021.

Federal Health Minister, Mustafa Kamal, has urged parents to cooperate with the medical staff, who visit door-to-door to vaccinate children.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government's commitment to eradicating polio from the country and announced the launch of a fresh 7-day national anti-polio campaign for millions of children under age five.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the campaign in Islamabad, the prime minister said the government, along with the health authorities, was making tireless efforts to eliminate the virus once and for all.