RAWALPINDI: Parents have been urged to vaccinate their children against polio in every campaign until the country becomes polio-free.

The call was made by renowned Test cricketer Sajid Khan and a senior Rawalpindi district official at a public awareness event in Rawalpindi. They reminded families that the poliovirus can paralyse children for life and has no cure except prevention through vaccination.

Sajid Khan, who has been actively supporting the polio eradication campaign, reaffirmed his dedication to the cause and appealed to all parents not to skip polio vaccination.

“I will keep visiting my fellow Pakistanis to remind them of their responsibility. Until Pakistan is polio-free, I will stand with this mission,” he said.

“Polio workers are from our own communities. They knock on your door with one goal - to protect your children from a disease that has no cure.”

A senior official from the Rawalpindi district administration supported the message, stating that every dose matters.

Missing even one child can endanger others. Parents must understand that polio is a permanent disability and only the vaccine can prevent it.

Despite significant progress, Pakistan remains one of the two countries where the wild poliovirus still exists, mainly due to missed children in high-risk areas. Environmental samples and sporadic cases are proof that the threat is real and persistent.

The government and its partners remain committed to ending polio and welcome the unwavering support from athletes and celebrities like Sajid Khan, who help build public trust and awareness across the country. Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under the age of five.

It invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours. In severe cases, it can lead to death if breathing muscles are affected.

There is no cure for polio and it can only be prevented through repeated oral vaccination.

The polio vaccine is safe, effective and must be given in multiple doses to protect every child fully.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2025