Pakistan has launched its last nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year, aiming to immunize more than 45 million children under the age of five across the country. The seven-day drive, which runs from December 15 to 21, is the fifth and final anti-polio campaign of 2025.

Health officials say the country has seen a significant decline in polio cases compared to last year, with only 30 cases reported so far in 2025, down from 74 in 2024. Most of these cases were concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security challenges and gaps in immunization coverage continue to pose risks.

The campaign will deploy over 400,000 polio workers, who will administer oral polio drops door to door and at designated vaccination points. Punjab will vaccinate over 23 million children, Sindh more than 10.6 million, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa around 7.2 million, and Balochistan over 2.6 million. Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will also see extensive coverage.

While progress has been made, health authorities warn that the virus continues to circulate in certain high-risk areas, particularly districts along the border with Afghanistan. Movement across these corridors can contribute to the spread of the virus, making repeated vaccination efforts critical.

Officials are calling on parents to fully cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that every child under five receives the polio drops. Authorities are also urging public figures, scholars, and community leaders to help raise awareness and encourage participation in the campaign.

Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. Vaccination remains the only effective protection, and Pakistan’s health authorities stress that collective action is essential to eliminate the virus from the country.