Over 18.6 Million Children Vaccinated in Sub-National Polio Campaign Across 79 Districts
Islamabad, 4 June 2026 — A review of the May 2026 Sub-National Polio Vaccination Campaign, conducted 18–24 May across 79 high-risk districts.
Campaign at a Glance
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), led by the Government of Pakistan, held a review meeting on the May Sub-National Polio Vaccination Campaign conducted from 18 to 24 May 2026 across 79 selected districts in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad Capital Territory. The campaign targeted high-risk districts where poliovirus had been detected in environmental samples, aiming to reduce the risk of transmission in these priority areas.
18.61M
Children Vaccinated
79
High-Risk Districts Covered
163,000
Frontline Health Workers Mobilized
98%
Administrative Campaign Coverage
0.12%
Refusal Rate
88%
Missed Children Reached in Follow-Up
Provincial Coverage
During the week-long campaign, frontline health workers went door-to-door across every targeted district. Approximately 404,417 children (2.1 percent) were missed, primarily because they were unavailable during household visits — targeted follow-up visits in the campaign's final days reached 88 percent of them.
6.06M
Punjab
5.74M
Sindh
4.39M
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1.96M
Balochistan
435,000
Islamabad Capital Territory
"The successful completion of this campaign reflects the dedication of our frontline workers and the continued support of parents, caregivers, and communities across Pakistan. Every missed child remains a risk, and we must continue working together until polio is eradicated from the country."
— Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio Eradication
The PEI continues to strengthen cross-border and regional coordination in support of polio eradication efforts. Last month, the PEI joined Afghanistan's polio programme at a Technical Advisory Group meeting, where epidemiological trends were reviewed, synergies were identified, and coordination and collaboration were strengthened. Given how easily poliovirus can spread across borders, sustained coordination between the two countries remains essential to achieving and maintaining interruption of transmission.
At the national level, the PEI is also finalizing the 2026 National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP), which outlines priority actions required to accelerate progress towards polio eradication, strengthen outbreak response, and close remaining immunity gaps.
The PEI remains firmly committed to reaching the final mile of polio eradication. Frequent and repeated vaccination campaigns remain essential as poliovirus continues to be detected in environmental samples, underscoring the need for multiple doses to build and sustain strong immunity to interrupt transmission. The PEI calls for sustained cooperation from parents, communities, educators, religious leaders, and all segments of society, emphasising that every child under five must receive polio vaccine drops during every campaign to ensure full protection.
Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus continues to circulate, alongside Afghanistan, reinforcing the urgency of continued collective efforts to protect every child.
With two nationwide polio vaccination campaigns already completed in 2026, the next campaign is scheduled for September. Additional targeted vaccination activities will also be conducted in high-risk areas as needed to sustain high levels of immunity across the country.
Note for the Editor
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this disease. Each time a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased. Repeated immunisations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio-free, besides the two endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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