Sindh Polio Campaign Misses 237,000 Children

KARACHI: The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) Sindh has presented a detailed report on the latest anti-polio campaign to Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, revealing that around 237,216 children — about 2.6 per cent of the total target — remained unvaccinated during the first National Immunisation Days (NIDs) of 2026 held from February 2 to 8. Most of the still-missed children were reported from Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.
According to officials the children could not be administered polio drops despite being included in micro-plans and follow-up visits by vaccination teams. The reasons include parental refusal, children not being present at home, incorrect addresses, population movement, and access issues in certain localities.
The report was presented as part of a performance and risk review of the province-wide campaign. The chief minister directed authorities to intensify follow-up activities in high-risk union councils and ensure that missed children are covered through repeat visits and targeted outreach.
Sindh remains one of the most sensitive regions in Pakistan’s polio eradication effort due to dense urban populations, high mobility, and persistent pockets of vaccine hesitancy — particularly in parts of Karachi. Environmental surveillance in the province has frequently detected poliovirus in sewage samples over recent years, indicating continued virus circulation even when case numbers remain low.
Health authorities say repeated campaigns are necessary because polio has no cure and can only be prevented through multiple doses of oral polio vaccine. Children under five are considered most vulnerable. Sindh has conducted regular supplementary immunisation activities alongside routine immunisation, but operational gaps and refusals continue to pose challenges.