The Punjab Emergency Operations Centre has announced that the polio vaccination campaign in Lahore will continue uninterrupted during the Basant holidays from February 6 to 8.
The PEOC emphasized that children’s health remains the top priority of the government, even during festive celebrations, and that there will be no pause in efforts to ensure vaccination for every child.
Increased population movement during Basant presents additional challenges for polio workers; however, frontline vaccination teams will remain fully active despite festivities, crowds, and travel.
The arrival of people from other provinces during the holiday period raises the risk of poliovirus reintroduction in Lahore, prompting authorities to place the city on high alert to prevent any potential resurgence of the virus.
To mitigate these risks, the government of Punjab has implemented comprehensive measures. Additional vaccination teams have been deployed at key entry points, transit routes, and major crossings across the city, while mobile teams and special vaccination check posts remain operational throughout the Basant period. Polio teams have been directed to focus particularly on high-risk areas to ensure that no child under five years of age is missed.
The polio campaign is currently on its third day across Punjab, with teams continuing door-to-door vaccination activities. During the first two days of the campaign, more than 10.5 million children have been vaccinated. In Lahore alone, over 590,000 children have received polio drops, while more than 454,000 children were vaccinated in Rawalpindi and over 478,000 in Multan.
According to the PEOC Coordinator Mr Adeel Tasawur, the campaign is progressing successfully. Mr Adeel Tasawur stated that children are being vaccinated after counseling parents, noting that parental cooperation has been exemplary. He urged the public to treat polio workers with respect and emphasized that ensuring the safety of female polio workers is a shared responsibility. He added that security arrangements have been put in place for polio teams and that teams deployed at key transit points have been instructed to remain vigilant.
The EOC Coordinator further highlighted that poliovirus is a highly infectious and dangerous virus that can spread with mobile populations. Polio drops remain the most effective means of protection against the disease, while proper nutrition and hygiene play an important supportive role in prevention. He noted that recent environmental samples are testing negative and reaffirmed that the momentum in the first campaign of the year will be sustained to achieve the zero-polio target in 2026.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five years of age and can cause irreversible paralysis. Pakistan remains one of the few countries where poliovirus transmission persists. With the support of the Government of Pakistan, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other partners, repeated nationwide and sub-national immunization campaigns are being conducted to interrupt virus transmission. Repeated vaccination during every campaign is essential to protect children and secure a polio-free future.
