ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will conduct its first nationwide anti-polio drive of the new year from Feb. 2, the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) said on Wednesday, vowing to vaccinate over 45 million children against the disease.
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries where transmission of the wild poliovirus has never been interrupted, posing a risk to global eradication efforts. The virus, which can cause irreversible paralysis, has no cure and can only be prevented through repeated oral vaccination.
The NEOC said it conducted six nationwide campaigns against poliovirus last year, adding that they resulted in a “significant” reduction in cases from 74 in 2024 to 30 in 2025.
“The first national polio campaign of 2026 will be conducted across the country from Feb. 2,” the NEOC said in a statement.
“During the campaign, over 45 million children will be administered polio drops.”
