EOC Sindh’s data revealed that by the end of the campaign’s 5th day, 509,869 out of 537,638 eligible children had received the fractional dose
By Saima Baloch
KARACHI: The EOC spokesperson announced on Tuesday that the First Phase of the combined fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) campaign in Karachi has achieved over 95 percent coverage in 40 high-risk and super high-risk Union Councils (UCs).
Coordinator Sindh Emergency Operation Center Irshad Ali Sodhar asserted that the campaign, which was launched on August 15, 2024, successfully vaccinated more than 95 percent of children in the targeted 40 UCs during its first phase. He added that the second phase, aiming to vaccinate the remaining half-million children in 45 additional UCs, is set to begin on Wednesday.
EOC Sindh’s data revealed that by the end of the campaign’s 5th day, 509,869 out of 537,638 eligible children had received the fractional dose of the polio vaccine via jet injectors, meeting the 95 percent target. Additionally, 540,093 out of 569,835 children under the age of five were administered OPV drops.
Orangi Town UCs reported the highest fIPV acceptance rate, surpassing the target with 105 percent coverage through jet injectors, while 100 percent of children received OPV drops during the drive. In Karachi West, 100 percent of eligible children received fIPV, with 90 percent receiving OPV drops.
Despite some initial resistance to fIPV on the first day, the campaign saw steady improvement, driven by the dedicated efforts of team leaders and volunteers. Sodhar noted that the campaign’s progress was closely monitored by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho, and other officials.
“Thanks to strict monitoring and the teams’ hard work, vaccine acceptance significantly increased by the end of the fifth day of the 10-day fIPV drive,” Sodhar stated. “Data indicates that 95 percent of children in the initial 40 Union Councils of Karachi were vaccinated by the end of the first phase.”
In Karachi South’s UCs, 99 percent of children received fIPV, while 113 percent were given OPV. Karachi Central’s UCs saw 96 percent of children vaccinated with fIPV, and 104 percent received OPV drops. In Malir’s UCs, the coverage rates were 96 percent for fIPV and 97 percent for OPV. District East’s UCs reported 93 percent and 96 percent vaccination rates for IPV and OPV, respectively, while Keamari’s UCs saw 84 percent and 89 percent coverage.
With the goal of vaccinating every child in the 85 Union Councils by the campaign’s conclusion, the Provincial EOC Incharge urged parents to ensure their children receive both the oral and injectable polio vaccines. He emphasized the use of painless jet injectors, which provide lifelong immunity to children.
During this campaign, approximately 1,037,000 children aged four months to five years are receiving fractional inactivated polio vaccine (fIPV) injections alongside OPV drops.
“We have introduced innovative, painless jet injectors to administer the polio vaccine to children in high-risk areas of Karachi, where the poliovirus still circulates,” said Sodhar. “A single dose of fIPV is highly immunogenic, and two doses provide even higher immunity. When oral polio drops are co-administered with fIPV, they enhance gut immunity and prevent viral transmission within the community.” Experts noted that this is the first large-scale vaccination campaign using needle-free jet injectors to administer fractional doses of the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (fIPV), a method that was previously used on a smaller scale in Karachi in 2019.
