Pakistan’s 2025 Anti-Polio Campaign Misses Coverage Goals, leaving thousands of children unvaccinated across the country. The final nationwide polio campaign, conducted from December 15 to 21, targeted over 45 million children but fell short of complete coverage. Security concerns, parental refusals, and accessibility issues contributed to the shortfall in polio vaccination.
According to official sources, 872,776 children remained unvaccinated during the 2025 anti-polio drive. Of these, 669,326 children were unavailable at the time of vaccination, while 54,676 parents refused polio drops. Additionally, 148,774 children missed vaccination due to boycotts or security challenges. The campaign covered all provinces, but provincial vaccination data highlighted gaps, with Punjab missing 331,000 children and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa around 250,000. Sindh recorded 238,982 missed children, Balochistan 43,339, Islamabad 6,000, Gilgit-Baltistan 3,026, and Azad Kashmir 1,272.
Authorities noted that vaccination coverage remained below 95% in eight districts, while 111 districts achieved 95–100% coverage. The campaign emphasized the need to strengthen outreach and address polio immunization gaps. Officials warned that incomplete coverage increases the risk of polio outbreaks and urged parents to cooperate in future drives.
This final national polio campaign of 2025 follows earlier nationwide efforts in October, which also failed to meet targets. Over 1,096,525 children missed vaccination during the October drive, with 721,296 unavailable and 53,621 cases of parental refusal reported. Health authorities stress that timely vaccination is critical to eradicating polio in Pakistan.
The 2025 anti-polio campaign highlights ongoing challenges, including security, access, and public awareness, emphasizing that sustained efforts are essential for nationwide polio elimination.
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Pakistan’s 2025 Anti-Polio Campaign misses coverage goals, leaving thousands of children unvaccinated during the nationwide polio drive.
