Balochistan To Launch FIPV Campaign To Strengthen Polio Immunity In High-risk Areas

Sumaira FH Published July 27, 2025 | 06:20 PM

QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jul, 2025) In a continued effort to eradicate poliovirus and strengthen immunity among children in vulnerable regions, Balochistan to launch a week-long Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) campaign, running from Monday, July 28 to August 4, 2025.

The immunization drive targets 585,490 children between the ages of 4 and 59 months across 123 high-risk Union Councils in Quetta, Pishin, Chaman, Dera Bugti, Duki, Zhob, and Killa Abdullah. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to stop virus transmission and reinforce protection among young children.

A total of 1,835 vaccination teams have been deployed to carry out the campaign. The fIPV will be administered alongside the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), which is being given to children from birth to 59 months of age. Health experts note that fIPV acts as a critical booster dose, particularly effective for children with weakened immune systems due to malnutrition or recurrent illnesses, who may not respond adequately to OPV alone.

Inam Ulhaque, Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Balochistan, urged parents to ensure their children receive the vaccine. He emphasized that fIPV is both safe and highly effective, calling it an essential step in preventing permanent disabilities caused by polio.

To ensure the safety of health workers, the provincial government has put in place robust security arrangements. Authorities have also appealed to the media to help dispel misinformation and promote public awareness to boost community participation in the campaign.

With Balochistan continuing to be a critical front in Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, health officials stress the need for sustained and coordinated vaccination campaigns to eliminate the virus once and for all.