Pakistan widens polio shots to teens amid virus traces in big cities

The Health Ministry has unveiled a revised polio eradication strategy that expands vaccination to children up to 15 years of age. Officials said the decision followed persistent detection of the virus in environmental samples from major urban centres. The first phase, beginning in November, will be rolled out in Karachi, Lahore and Quetta. Programme coordinator (Retd) Captain Anwarul Haq said the move—recommended by the Technical Advisory Group—marks a shift from the under-five focus to a broader catch-up effort in high-risk zones. Approximately four million children in Karachi and 1.5 million in Lahore are expected to be targeted, while an injection-based campaign is planned in Quetta to strengthen immunity in vulnerable cohorts. The announcement comes amid reports of tighter international funding for eradication efforts. Pakistan typically spends about $250 million annually on anti-polio activities with support from global partners, but recent reductions have forced authorities to recalibrate campaigns and staffing. To sustain momentum, health officials plan to shorten national drives from five to three days and streamline field teams for efficiency. Pakistan has recorded 27 polio cases so far in 2025, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hardest hit, alongside new cases in Sindh; Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan have reported one case each.