Karachi Tightens Polio Drive After Virus Confirmed

Overview

• Karachi’s commissioner visited district teams to review the response after poliovirus was confirmed and ordered stronger monitoring of the campaign.
• The commissioner’s office reported overall household coverage of 85 percent in the campaign’s first two days while individual districts recorded much lower coverage.
• District-level first-two-day vaccination rates ranged from 38 to 43 percent, with Central at 42 percent, East 38 percent, Keamari 40 percent, Korangi 39 percent, Malir 42 percent, South 43 percent, and West 41 percent.
• Deputy Commissioners were directed to form special teams to vaccinate missed and refusal cases, personally supervise sensitive union councils, and seek explanations for absent staff.
• Officials prioritized outreach to slum and jhuggi clusters and shared lists of missed or refusing children with community leaders to boost same-day conversions and speed containment efforts.