Doctors’ task force to counter polio rumours and misinformation in Punjab

The Punjab Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio Eradication has announced plans to establish a province-wide doctors’ task force

LAHORE, September 10, 2026: The Punjab Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio Eradication has announced plans to establish a province-wide doctors’ task force aimed at tackling rumours and misinformation about polio vaccination, addressing parents’ concerns and improving public confidence in immunisation.

The decision was announced during a workshop held at Services Hospital, attended by representatives of the Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) and senior medical professionals. The session focused on increasing the involvement of doctors in the province’s polio eradication efforts and developing effective ways to respond to concerns and misconceptions surrounding vaccination.

Punjab Chief Minister’s Focal Person for Polio, Uzma Kardar, said the proposed task force would operate across Punjab with the support of senior doctors and medical experts.

She said healthcare professionals would play an important role in providing parents with reliable, evidence-based information about the polio vaccine and responding to questions that may arise during vaccination campaigns.

Kardar said doctors and other medical professionals are among the most trusted sources of health information for parents. Their direct involvement, she added, could help counter false claims and common misconceptions about vaccination more effectively.

She said doctors would be provided with evidence-based information and clear responses to frequently raised questions and concerns. This would allow them to communicate confidently with parents and caregivers both through direct interaction and digital platforms.

Kardar further stressed the need for cooperation among trusted voices across society to support the polio programme. She said paediatricians, doctors and other healthcare workers could make a significant contribution by ensuring families receive accurate and credible information about vaccination.

Punjab EOC Coordinator Khalid Parvaiz said the province had made considerable progress in its efforts to eliminate polio. However, the continued detection of positive environmental samples showed that sustained efforts were still required and there was no room for complacency.

He said the immediate objective was to move from controlling poliovirus transmission to achieving its sustained interruption across Punjab. He added that every vaccination campaign should be used to locate and vaccinate children who may have been missed during previous campaigns.

Parvaiz announced that Punjab’s next polio vaccination campaign would start on September 21 in 13 districts. The campaign will run for seven days in Lahore and four days in the remaining districts.

He said special attention would be given to children who had previously been missed. Instead of simply recording their numbers, officials would profile, map and follow up with these children to ensure they receive the vaccine.

He highlighted mobile and migrant communities, riverine areas, difficult-to-reach locations and provincial and district boundaries as key areas requiring additional attention. Population movement in these areas can make it challenging for teams to repeatedly identify and vaccinate children.

Parvaiz said transit vaccination, community engagement and coordination between districts were being strengthened to address these challenges. He also noted that Lahore required continued focus because of its large population, high mobility and complex vaccination requirements.

He called for doctors, healthcare workers, community and religious leaders, influencers and frontline workers to work together to improve vaccine confidence.

The workshop participants discussed parents’ concerns, strategies for countering misinformation and the role of medical professionals in supporting polio eradication. They reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation between doctors and the Punjab EOC to ensure parents receive credible information and every child is protected through vaccination.