A week-long national immunization drive against polio concluded on Thursday during which over 43 million children under the age of five years received lifesaving vaccines across the country. The campaign was synchronized with Afghanistan so that children on both sides of the border received vaccines at the same time and are protected from polio.
Over 340,000 trained and dedicated polio workers were engaged in the vaccination drive to inoculate the children at their doorstep. A supplementary dose of Vitamin A was also administered to the eligible children.
Dr Shahzad Baig, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre, Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), expressed satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the immunization campaign.
“Pakistan has made enormous progress over the last 18 months, but we need to drive even harder to achieve the results we want. We need to ensure all eligible children are vaccinated during each campaign to build their immunity against polio,” Dr Baig said.
