Pakistan Faces Surge in Polio Cases Amid New Vaccination Campaign

Rising violence against health workers and misinformation hinder efforts to eradicate polio as Pakistan prepares to vaccinate millions of children.

Pakistan has reported 39 polio cases this year, a significant increase from six cases last year, with most cases originating in Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
A nationwide vaccination campaign is set to begin on October 28, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five.
Misinformation and distrust of health initiatives, partly due to historical events, continue to impede vaccination efforts, leading to many children missing essential doses.
Violent attacks against polio workers and security personnel have escalated, with militants targeting campaigns and spreading false claims about the vaccine.
The World Health Organization highlights the critical need for simultaneous vaccination efforts in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, the only countries where polio remains endemic.