Nearly 1 Million Children Missed in Pakistan's Latest Polio Drive

Pakistan’s latest nationwide polio immunisation campaign has come under scrutiny after reports revealed that nearly one million children were missed, while more than 53,000 families refused vaccination. Although health authorities stated that over 44 million children were vaccinated and coverage reached 98 percent, public health experts caution that even minor gaps can sustain transmission in a country where the poliovirus remains endemic.

Campaign data indicated that approximately 670,000 children were marked as “not available at home” during vaccination visits. Health specialists have questioned this classification, arguing that children who are absent from home are often present in schools, markets, parks, or visiting relatives. They have urged authorities to deploy vaccination teams in public spaces and to conduct repeated follow-up visits to households to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.

Refusals remain a significant challenge, particularly in Karachi, which accounted for nearly 31,000 of the total refusals—about 58 percent nationwide. Experts attribute the high refusal rate to a mix of misinformation, inadequate local planning, weak governance, and insufficient political engagement. Public health advocates have called for a more targeted, neighbourhood-level strategy in urban centres, along with greater involvement of community leaders to build trust.

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Security concerns continue to hinder vaccination efforts in certain regions. Health workers have previously faced threats and attacks, affecting the reach of immunisation teams. Experts stress that ensuring visible and effective security for polio teams is the state’s responsibility, and no child should be deprived of vaccination due to safety fears among frontline workers.

While Pakistan has recently recorded fewer polio cases and some environmental samples have tested negative for the virus, officials warn that eradication requires zero tolerance for missed children. Public health authorities emphasise that operational shortcomings, refusals, and security lapses must be addressed urgently to prevent setbacks in the long-standing battle against a preventable yet persistent disease.

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