RAWALPINDI: A four-day targeted polio vaccination campaign will begin on August 10 in four tehsils of Rawalpindi district to vaccinate 774,546 children under five years of age.

The campaign will be held in Rawalpindi City, Rawalpindi Cantonment, Rawalpindi Rural, and Taxila. A total of 3,147 mobile teams, 169 fixed vaccination teams, and 143 transit vaccination teams have been deployed for the campaign.

Their work will be supervised by 525 Area In-Charges and 142 Union Council Medical Officers (UCMOs) to ensure that every child receives polio vaccine through house-to-house visits, fixed vaccination sites, and transit points.

Although Punjab has not reported any polio cases in 2026, the campaign is being conducted as a preventive measure to maintain strong immunity among children against the virus. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where poliovirus continues to circulate.

So far this year, Pakistan has reported three polio cases, while Afghanistan has reported 12. With continuous movement of people across districts and provinces, maintaining high immunity through quality vaccination campaigns remains essential to prevent virus transmission and protect children from lifelong paralysis.

District Health Officer (DHO) Rawalpindi Dr Hussain Tirmizi briefed the media on Thursday at the District Health Office and urged parents to ensure that every child under five years of age receives polio drops during the special campaign.

He said: “Rawalpindi has remained protected from poliovirus because of consistently high-quality vaccination campaigns. However, the virus continues to circulate in other parts of Pakistan as well as in neighbouring Afghanistan, and continuous population movement means the risk of virus importation remains.”

He said that the targeted campaign was therefore an important preventive measure to maintain strong immunity among children and keep Rawalpindi protected.” Dr Tirmizi said repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine are not only safe but also scientifically necessary.

He said: “Every polio campaign is important because each additional dose further strengthens a child’s immunity against poliovirus. Even if a child has completed routine immunization or has received polio drops during previous campaigns, they should still receive the vaccine during every campaign.”

Repeated doses build strong intestinal immunity, which plays a critical role in preventing the spread of the virus. He appealed to parents to fully cooperate with vaccination teams throughout the campaign.

Parents and caregivers have a vital role to play in this national effort.

He noted that poliovirus often spreads silently, with infected individuals showing no visible symptoms, making it essential to vaccinate every eligible child.

“Our transit vaccination teams are stationed at key travel points to vaccinate children on the move. This provides an additional layer of protection against the possible importation of poliovirus into Rawalpindi.”

Dr Tirmizi appreciated the continued support of community leaders, religious scholars, teachers, medical professionals, civil society organisations, and the media in ensuring the success of the campaign.

He said that while Rawalpindi has made significant progress in protecting children from poliovirus, sustained vaccination campaigns must continue until polio is eradicated globally.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2026