Despite around eight hundred thousand children missing vaccination during the last polio campaign of the year, Pakistan has made progress in its fight against the polio virus in 2025, according to the polio eradication program.
Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong disability. The only effective way to prevent it is to ensure that every child under the age of five receives polio drops during every campaign and completes all routine immunizations on time.
According to a statement issued by the program, six polio vaccination campaigns were conducted during the year, including five nationwide campaigns. As a result, the number of reported polio cases dropped from 74 in 2024 to 30 in 2025, and no new case has been reported nationwide since September.
However, a polio expert, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that one characteristic of the virus is that it can remain inactive for several years and then reemerge with intensity. The expert said it is true that 74 cases were reported in 2024 and the number declined to 30 in the current year, but only six cases were reported in 2023, while 20 cases were recorded in 2022.
The expert further said that although the year is almost over, there is still a possibility of an increase in the number of cases because it takes about three weeks to confirm whether paralysis in a child is caused by polio or another reason. According to the expert, around four thousand samples from paralyzed children are tested in laboratories every year, therefore the final number of polio cases for 2025 will be confirmed by the end of January.
It is worth noting that the target of the last nationwide polio campaign was to administer polio drops to 45.4 million children under the age of five. However, due to refusals across the country, a total of 44.6 million children could be vaccinated.
Need for complete monitoring of the polio virus:
The polio program stated that although the number of polio cases is declining, Pakistan’s fight will continue until the disease is completely eradicated. The virus is still circulating in some high risk areas, making continuous monitoring essential.
According to the statement, targeted actions, effective community engagement, and sustained vaccination campaigns are crucial to reach every child and prevent any possible resurgence. Frontline health workers, security personnel, and local administrations are working together to maintain high immunity levels and keep Pakistan on track towards becoming polio free.
This progress was further strengthened during the latest national polio campaign held from December 15 to 21, during which more than 98 percent coverage was achieved nationwide. Performance remained encouraging across all four provinces as well as in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and Islamabad.
Compared to the previous campaign, an 18 percent reduction was recorded in the number of children who missed vaccination, while access and operational performance improved significantly, particularly in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The statement said that despite this progress, efforts will continue until every child is protected. Although these measures have resulted in important achievements, the fight against polio is not over.
According to the statement, continued engagement with communities, religious leaders, civil society, and the media is vital to build trust, counter misinformation, and ensure that every child is protected from polio.
The statement further said that although access challenges still exist at the local level, particularly in some parts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, these issues have been identified and are being addressed through targeted actions at the district level.
Based on the progress made in 2025, Pakistan’s polio eradication program is accelerating targeted efforts in 2026 to stop the remaining transmission of the virus and move decisively towards eradication.
The statement said that with transmission now limited, population immunity increasing, and performance improving in previously hard to reach areas, the program is firmly moving towards achieving a polio free future for every child.
It is worth mentioning that Pakistan is among the last two countries in the world where polio still exists, the other being Afghanistan.
