Measles, Rubella Vaccination Drive to Begin in Pakistan

KARACHI – The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) announced a nationwide vaccination drive from November 17 to November 29. The campaign will target measles, rubella, and polio in children across Pakistan. NEOC emphasized that these diseases are highly contagious and can cause serious health complications. Officials said this effort aims to protect children in all provinces and territories, ensuring better immunization coverage.

Measles and rubella spread through respiratory droplets and can lead to pneumonia and encephalitis. Pakistan reported over 131,000 measles cases in the past three years. NEOC highlighted that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent outbreaks. The campaign will provide free vaccines to children to reduce the risks of these life-threatening diseases.

The drive will vaccinate 35.4 million children aged 6 months to under five years. Polio drops will also be administered in high-risk districts. NEOC officials said the combined effort will protect children from both lifelong paralysis and deadly infections. They stressed the importance of parental cooperation to ensure every eligible child receives the vaccines.

Oral polio drops will be given in 89 high-risk districts, reaching 22.9 million children under five. In specific districts, polio drops will be administered alongside the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. NEOC said this dual approach ensures maximum protection for children across Pakistan. The campaign also aims to address gaps in immunization coverage and health misinformation.

The nationwide effort will cover Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad. NEOC urged all families to participate actively in the vaccination drive. Officials said protecting children through vaccination is vital to prevent disease outbreaks and secure public health.

READ MORE : Three New Polio Cases Reported in Pakistan in a Single Day

Pakistan has reported three new cases of polio in a single day, raising fresh concerns about the country’s ongoing struggle against the crippling disease. According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), the new cases have emerged from North Waziristan and Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Umerkot in Sindh.

This development brings the total number of confirmed polio cases in the country to 17 so far this year.

In a statement, NEOC emphasised that children with weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable, especially those who have not received the required polio vaccinations. “Unvaccinated children can not only contract polio themselves but also pose a risk to others,” the statement read. “Only repeated vaccinations can offer full protection against this highly contagious virus.”