Punjab’s Province-Wide Polio Campaign in Full Swing
By Staff Reporter | Published October 15, 2025 | Updated 2 hours ago
LAHORE: The province-wide anti-polio campaign continued across Punjab on Tuesday, as thousands of dedicated health workers carried out door-to-door vaccination drives to ensure every child under the age of five receives polio drops.
💉 Millions of Children Vaccinated on First Day
According to the Punjab Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), more than 5.2 million children were vaccinated on the first day of the campaign.
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Lahore: 287,000 children vaccinated
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Rawalpindi: 222,000 children vaccinated
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Multan: 241,000 children vaccinated
The campaign was officially inaugurated on Monday at Samanabad Hospital, Lahore, by EOC Coordinator Adeel Tasawur, alongside representatives from the Health Department, World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF.
🌍 Commitment to a Polio-Free Punjab
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the October National Immunization Days (NIDs), Mr. Tasawur reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to completely eradicate polio from the province.
“Polio eradication is our top priority. The virus targets only unvaccinated children, while the vaccine offers full protection. Our teams are reaching every community, including mobile and high-risk populations, to ensure no child is left behind,” he said.
He also emphasized that hospitals, transit points, and major entry and exit routes have been staffed with trained vaccinators to reach children on the move. Parents were urged to cooperate with vaccination teams and to report any missed children by calling 1166.
🚑 Field Visits and Monitoring
During his field visit to Multan, Mr. Tasawur met with the Deputy Commissioner to review the campaign’s progress and assess on-ground performance. He also visited high-risk areas to observe vaccination activities and interact with health workers and community members.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Chief of Polio, Ms. Melissa Corkum, visited nomadic and high-risk communities in Lahore, where she observed vaccination drives and spoke with parents and vaccinators. She praised the dedication of frontline teams and reaffirmed UNICEF’s continued support for Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate polio.
👶 Campaign Duration and Workforce
The National Immunization Days (NIDs) campaign will continue across Punjab until October 16, while in Lahore, designated as a high-risk district, the campaign will run until October 19.
Over 200,000 health workers and supervisors are actively participating in the drive, visiting homes and outreach centers to ensure no child under five is missed.