Punjab to vaccinate 9.3 million children in November polio campaign across 13 districts

Punjab is set to launch a province-wide polio vaccination campaign on November 2 targeting approximately 9.3 million children across 13 districts to strengthen immunity against the crippling disease.

LAHORE: Punjab is set to launch a province-wide polio vaccination campaign on November 2 targeting approximately 9.3 million children across 13 districts to strengthen immunity against the crippling disease.

The seven-day campaign scheduled to continue until November 8 was discussed during a virtual meeting chaired by Punjab Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Coordinator Khalid Parvaiz. Representatives of District Health Authorities from the 13 districts attended the meeting to review preparations and operational arrangements.

According to the campaign plan vaccination activities in Lahore will continue for seven days followed by two additional days of follow-up. In the remaining 12 districts vaccination teams will conduct a four-day drive including three days of vaccination and one day for follow-up activities.

A workforce of 77,894 personnel will be deployed to reach children through door-to-door visits fixed vaccination centres and transit teams operating in areas with high population movement.

The campaign will include 31,869 mobile teams 1,776 fixed teams and 1,150 transit teams. They will receive support from 1,211 Union Council Medical Officers and 6,205 Area In-Charges.

The 13 districts included in the drive are Bhakkar, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kot Addu, Lahore, Layyah, Mianwali, Multan, Murree, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi and Rahim Yar Khan.

Lahore has the highest vaccination target with more than 2.28 million children expected to receive polio drops. Rahim Yar Khan follows with over 1.14 million children while Multan has a target exceeding one million. Rawalpindi is expected to cover approximately 990,000 children.

During the meeting Parvaiz instructed district authorities to ensure accurate campaign planning particularly in areas with migrant and mobile populations. He stressed that vaccination teams must be properly organised and deployed according to local requirements to prevent children from being missed.

He also directed senior health officials to closely monitor campaign activities identify missed children and address operational challenges without delay. District authorities have additionally been instructed to conduct a complete post-campaign assessment to evaluate vaccination coverage and implementation quality.

Emphasising public cooperation Parvaiz urged parents caregivers and community representatives to support vaccination teams and facilitate follow-up visits.

He reminded families that polio has no cure but can be prevented through vaccination stressing that every eligible child must receive polio drops during each campaign regardless of previous doses.

The initiative is part of Punjab’s ongoing efforts to prevent poliovirus transmission and protect children across the province.