KARACHI: Five environmental samples have recently tested positive for the poliovirus in the city, a top health department official said on Wednesday at a consultation held ahead of an upcoming polio booster dose campaign, emphasising the need for a strengthened response.

The campaign targeting children up to 10 years of age in 89 union committees of Karachi is scheduled for May 12-25.

The session organised at the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) brought together senior paediatricians from across Karachi and experts representing Unicef, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, N-STOP, the Pakistan Paediatric Association and the Pakistan Medical Association.

The event underscored unified support from all stakeholders, who described the booster dose as a critical intervention to strengthen children’s immunity and curb poliovirus transmission.

Campaign to begin from 12th and cover 89 UCs

Speaking at the programme, Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Sheheryar Memon told the audience that five environmental samples in Karachi recently tested positive for the poliovirus, underscoring the urgency of intensified response efforts.

“Virus circulation during a typically low transmission season remains a serious concern,” he noted, stressing that extensive preparations were underway ahead of the campaign, with a strong focus on training and enhancing the capacity of frontline workers to safely and effectively administer the vaccine.

“All segments of society — including religious scholars, teachers, media and government departments — are being mobilised to ensure the success of this campaign,” he said.

Reinforcing the importance of community engagement, he urged parents to welcome polio teams and ensure their children receive the booster dose.

Highlighting global progress, Mr Memon noted that polio cases had declined dramatically from 188,000 in 1988 to just six cases globally in 2026, while stressing the need for sustained vigilance in high-risk areas.

Dr George from the WHO expressed concern over the intensity of poliovirus circulation in Karachi and noted that successful strategies implemented in Africa were being adapted to interrupt transmission.

Dr Iqbal Memon and Dr Sandeep emphasised the need to expand the campaign across all areas of Karachi to ensure comprehensive protection for children, noting that the polio booster dose was part of routine immunisation schedules in over 120 countries worldwide.

Dr Azeem Khawaja shared that the vaccine had been procured from Indonesia and would be administered using jet injectors to ensure a safe and efficient vaccination process.

Dr Khalid Shafi reassured that the polio booster dose was safe, halal and pain-free, stressing that waning immunity over time made booster doses essential for continued protection.

The consultation concluded with a strong call for collective action from all stakeholders to sustain momentum toward a polio-free Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026