Special polio vaccination campaign starts on June 17

23 polio cases have been reported in Pakistan in 2019

ISLAMABAD: Polio vaccination campaigns are scheduled to commence in core reservoirs on June 17 to vaccinate children up to five years of age.

Scores of frontline workers shall go door-to-door during the special campaign to vaccinate over 10.25 million children.

As per a press release issued by the National Emergency Operations Centre, 23 poliovirus cases have been reported in the country in 2019.

The cases were reported in Bannu, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan and Shangla districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). In addition, three cases were reported from Mir Ali and two from Miranshah.

Besides K-P, two poliovirus cases were also reported in Sindh - two from Karachi and one from Larkana. In Punjab, three cases have been reported from Lahore.

The EOC statement said the special immunisation campaign was planned in all core reservoirs as part of efforts to eradicate the virus.

“Bannu division has been declared highly sensitive as half of all cases originated there. Right now, Bannu is our top priority," said Babar bin Atta, the prime minister's focal person on polio eradication.

He requested all parents to play their due part and urged them to avoid fake news and propaganda against the polio vaccine.