QUETTA: A seven-day polio vaccination campaign will be launched across Balochistan on Monday, February 2, 2026, with the target of administering oral polio vaccine to more than 2.6 million children under the age of five.
Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Balochistan Coordinator Inam Ulhaque said all preparations for the campaign have been completed. A total of 11,000 vaccination teams will take part in the drive, including 822 fixed teams and 474 transit teams, which will also administer polio drops to children at key movement points.
He stated that no polio case has been reported in Balochistan for the past 15 months, reflecting significant progress in eradication efforts. In 2025, substantial success was achieved in eliminating the poliovirus from the province. Currently, environmental samples from 93 percent of areas in Balochistan are polio-free, while the virus is still present in 7 percent of areas, posing a risk of infection to young children and potential re-emergence of the disease.
“This year is extremely important for the complete elimination of the poliovirus from the environment,” Inam Ulhaque said, adding that, as in previous years, organized and effective campaigns will continue in 2026 to reach every child.
He emphasised that polio can cause irreversible disability and urged parents to ensure their children receive polio drops during the campaign. “Children can be effected in virus at any time, which is why this campaign is crucial for prevention,” he said, noting that the success of the drive depends on public cooperation.
The EOC coordinator also appealed to civil society members, teachers, and religious leaders to help raise awareness and encourage parents to vaccinate their children. He reminded parents of the importance of routine immunization, which protects children from 12 life-threatening diseases, including measles, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and diphtheria, and urged them to visit nearby health centers to ensure timely vaccination.
“Protecting children’s health is a shared responsibility,” Inam Ulhaqe said. “If even one child is missed during the polio campaign, all children remain at risk.”
