Pakistan’s week-long sub-national polio vaccination campaign began on Monday, 2 November 2026. The drive covers 97 selected districts and aims to administer oral polio vaccine to around 24 million children under the age of five.
Security incidents reported during the campaign — 3 November update
Two police officers assigned to protect polio vaccination teams were killed and a third was injured in a shooting in Mohmand district on Tuesday, 3 November, while the officers were travelling to provide security for vaccinators. Separately, four polio workers were reported abducted in Tank district on 2 November. Police and security personnel were reported to be searching for the missing workers. No group had claimed responsibility for the Mohmand attack at the time of this update.
The incidents underline the risks faced by frontline teams, but they do not change the campaign’s stated target or the importance of protecting children. Parents and caregivers should continue to cooperate with authorised vaccination workers and ensure every child under five receives the recommended oral polio drops.
Because this is a sub-national campaign, it does not mean that every district will have the same door-to-door schedule. Parents and caregivers should check local arrangements and make sure eligible children are reached by the vaccination teams or through an authorised vaccination point.
Pakistan polio campaign: key details
| Detail | Campaign information |
|---|---|
| Start date | Monday, 2 November 2026 |
| Duration | One week |
| Coverage | 97 selected districts |
| Target group | Children under five years of age |
| Target reach | About 24 million children |
| Vaccine | Oral polio drops |
Why are children being vaccinated again?
Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause permanent paralysis. Repeated vaccination campaigns are used to build and maintain protection among young children and to reach those who may have missed an earlier round.
Parents should not assume that a child can skip a campaign because the child has already received polio drops. The national polio programme advises that every child under five should receive the campaign dose whenever vaccinators visit, regardless of the number of doses received previously. Routine childhood immunisations should also be kept up to date.
What should parents do during the campaign?
- Keep children under five ready: Make sure eligible children are available when vaccination teams visit the household.
- Allow the two-drop dose: The campaign vaccine is administered orally by trained vaccinators.
- Keep the vaccination record: Retain the child’s routine immunisation card and follow the advice of the health worker.
- Ask about a missed visit: If the team does not reach the home, contact the local health department or the official polio helpline for guidance.
- Do not rely on previous doses alone: Repeated campaign doses are part of the programme’s effort to close immunity gaps.
What if a polio team does not visit your home?
Households in selected districts may have different local schedules, and mobile teams may not reach every street at the same time. If a child under five is missed, parents should contact the relevant local health office or use the national Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 for vaccination-related assistance. The Polio WhatsApp Helpline is also listed as 0346-7776546.
When contacting a helpline, provide the child’s age and the district or area where the family lives. Ask where the child can receive the campaign dose and whether a nearby fixed vaccination point is available.
How can parents identify vaccination teams?
Door-to-door vaccination teams operate through the official campaign arrangements. Parents who are unsure about a visitor can ask to see the worker’s identification and contact the local health department or helpline to verify the team. Do not share unrelated personal or financial information with anyone claiming to be part of a vaccination drive.
Vaccination teams should be treated respectfully. Their work is intended to reach children who might otherwise be missed, including children in mobile families and communities where access to routine health services is difficult.
Why does the campaign cover selected districts?
Sub-national rounds focus resources on areas identified for intensified vaccination activity. The selection can reflect surveillance findings, population movement, missed children and the need to strengthen immunity in particular locations. The announcement of 97 districts does not mean that all other districts are permanently free of risk or that routine immunisation can be neglected elsewhere.
Pakistan’s progress against polio depends on consistent vaccination, disease surveillance and cooperation between health workers and families. For another public-health update, see Verity Pakistan’s guide to hospital services during the doctors’ protest. Reaching every eligible child during each campaign is important because even a small number of missed children can leave communities vulnerable to transmission.
A practical reminder for families
The November drive runs from 2 to 8 November and is intended to reach around 24 million children in 97 selected districts. Parents should confirm whether their district is included, cooperate with authorised vaccination teams and contact the helpline if a child is missed. The campaign dose complements—not replaces—the child’s routine immunisation schedule.
Featured image: Raja Imran Bahadr via Unsplash. Photograph from a previous polio vaccination activity in Rawalpindi, not the November 2026 campaign.
Campaign announcement: Radio Pakistan’s 1 November 2026 campaign update.