Lead
Pakistan launched its second nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year on April 13, aiming to reach more than 45 million children under the age of five. The week-long drive, which runs until April 19, involves over 400,000 frontline health workers conducting door-to-door visits across all provinces and regions, according to reports from Dawn, a Pakistani English-language daily.
Official data released after the campaign showed that more than 44.7 million children were vaccinated, falling short of the target by roughly 300,000, as reported by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). The campaign also administered Vitamin A supplements to children, and was carried out in coordination with Afghanistan to curb cross-border spread of the virus, according to several reports.
The drive comes at a critical point in Pakistan's polio eradication efforts. The country reported 31 cases in 2025 and one confirmed case so far in 2026, in Sindh's Sujawal district. Officials say environmental surveillance shows the virus is less widespread than last year, but warn that the final stage of eradication requires reaching every child.
Coverage Comparison
Coverage from Dawn, the only outlet whose reporting was available, presented the campaign from several angles. One report focused on the campaign's launch, highlighting the scale of the operation and quoting officials expressing optimism. Another detailed the post-campaign data, noting the shortfall and including expert commentary describing the result as an achievement compared to typical campaigns. A third report centred on First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari's appeal for public cooperation before the campaign began. A fourth, longer analysis examined why eradication has remained elusive, profiling families and frontline workers.
While all reports agree on the basic figures — over 45 million children targeted, 31 cases in 2025, one in 2026 — they differ in emphasis. The launch-focused report described the campaign as a "push to end polio" without mentioning the shortfall, while the post-campaign analysis by NEOC data underscored the gap. The analytical report provided additional context on challenges, including refusals, funding constraints, and the difficulty of reaching zero-dose children.
Key Claims
Campaign scope and impact: The second campaign vaccinated over 44.7 million children, with provincial breakdowns showing over 23 million in Punjab, over 10.4 million in Sindh, over 7.2 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 2.6 million in Balochistan, over 441,000 in Islamabad, over 292,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and around 717,000 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, according to NEOC data as reported by Dawn.
Shortfall and refusals: The campaign missed its target by about 300,000 children. An anonymous polio expert told Dawn this was "unsurprising," attributing misses to travel and refusals, and noted that drives typically miss 800,000 to 1 million children. During the first campaign of 2026 in February, around 950,000 children were missed, with 53,000 refusals, according to a separate report.
Progress indicators: Anwarul Haq, head of the polio programme, said poliovirus was detected in 23 of 87 districts in 2026, down from 82 in 2025. Positive environmental samples dropped from 651 in 2025 to 40 so far in 2026, as reported by Dawn.
Official statements: First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan stood at a "critical juncture," adding that "years of sustained effort have brought the country closer to eradication, with the coming phase representing the final stretch where reaching every child is essential." She cautioned that "as long as the virus exists anywhere, it remains a risk everywhere." Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said Pakistan is "closer than ever to ending polio" but stressed this is the most critical stage.
Eradication history: Pakistan has come close to eradication three times in the last decade: 2017 (8 cases), 2021 (1 case), and 2023 (6 cases), but each time progress was derailed by a surge. Officials say Pakistan must have no cases for at least three years to be declared polio-free, as reported by Dawn's analysis.
Perspectives
Official and institutional perspective: Government officials and the NEOC emphasize progress, citing sharply reduced case counts and environmental samples. They frame the campaign as part of a coordinated effort with Afghanistan and stress that public cooperation is essential to finishing the job.
Frontline worker perspective: The analytical report profiles polio workers, highlighting difficult working conditions, security concerns, and reduced payments. Workers describe chronic and silent refusals, and note that some areas, particularly in Karachi, account for a large share of refusals.
Expert and analytical perspective: Health experts point to systemic issues such as weak routine immunization, poor sanitation, and funding constraints. They argue that the "last mile" requires vaccinating 95 percent of children, but Pakistan aims for over 45 million and manages about 43 million. Some experts view the current shortfall as an achievement relative to past campaigns.
Public health reality: The virus continues to circulate in parts of the country, particularly in urban areas like Karachi, where a significant proportion of sewage samples test positive. The case of Shahmeer in Sujawal — a child who was fully vaccinated and had non-paralytic polio — illustrates the challenge of detecting and stopping transmission among asymptomatic carriers.
This article is based on reporting by Dawn. The campaign data, provincial breakdowns, and official statements were provided by the National Emergency Operations Centre and Pakistan's polio programme officials.