The Government of Punjab has launched an urgent polio vaccination campaign targeting 11.17 million children under five, including those in flood-devastated areas. This critical operation is set to begin on September 1, with the goal of ensuring no child misses out on the vaccine despite crisis conditions.

Coordinated emergency response
A high-level virtual session, led by the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) coordinator and attended by officials from 16 districts, marked the launch of this campaign. Districts will vary in coverage: in ten, selected areas will be targeted, while in others, the campaign will be province-wide.

Mass mobilisation of health workers
Approximately 94,000 frontline health workers are mobilized for this effort. The campaign will run from September 1 to 7 in Lahore, and September 1 to 4 in other districts—operating in all accessible areas, including those impacted heavily by floods.

Innovative outreach under challenging conditions
District health teams have affirmed that the campaign will proceed under all circumstances. In severely affected riverine zones, vaccination teams may resort to boat-based outreach to reach children stranded by floodwaters. The clear directive: no delay or access challenge will impede vaccination efforts.

Polio eradication remains top priority
Punjab’s leadership is unwavering: polio eradication is a top-tier public health objective. Officials reiterated that continuous vaccination campaigns are proven to prevent virus spread, and even in times of natural disaster, the protection of every child remains paramount.