By our correspondent
KARACHI: Sindh province has achieved near‑complete household coverage in its latest polio vaccination campaign, marking a major step forward in efforts to protect children from the virus. Officials reported that more than 10.5 million children were vaccinated during the drive, combining house‑to‑house visits with transit point vaccination at markets, transport hubs, and other public spaces.
Of those vaccinated, roughly 8.9 million children were reached directly at home, while around 459,000 were immunized at transit points, ensuring that mobile and travelling populations were included. Despite the high coverage, 32,947 households initially refused the vaccine. Health teams engaged these families through counselling and community outreach, addressing concerns and reinforcing confidence in vaccination.
Provincial authorities and program officials closely monitored the campaign through field visits and review meetings to assess performance, data accuracy, and coverage quality. Real‑time oversight helped identify gaps and enabled prompt corrective actions, contributing to the campaign’s overall success.
The campaign’s achievements reflect the dedication of thousands of frontline polio workers, supervisors, and social mobilisers who, often working under challenging conditions, ensured children across Sindh were reached. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Sindh reiterated its commitment to maintaining momentum through continued high‑quality campaigns, stronger community engagement, and close coordination with local authorities and partners.
Parents, caregivers, and community leaders are encouraged to continue supporting vaccination efforts to ensure no child is missed. With collective action and local ownership, Sindh remains central to Pakistan’s drive toward a polio‑free future.
