The anti-polio vaccination campaign has been postponed in several flood-affected districts of Punjab as authorities focus on rescue and relief work. The campaign will, however, continue as planned in other parts of the country starting September 1.
According to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), the vaccination drive has been suspended in nine districts badly hit by floods, including Multan, Muzaffargarh, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Bahawalpur. These areas are among the worst affected, with thousands of families displaced due to rising floodwaters. Officials explained that the step was taken to protect vaccination teams and families in submerged localities.
Health authorities confirmed that the polio campaign will continue in districts not directly affected by floods. These include Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Attock, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. The nationwide drive is scheduled to begin on September 1, and parents are urged to ensure that children under the age of five receive polio drops.
Multan, one of the hardest-hit areas in South Punjab, has seen large-scale evacuations as water levels in the Chenab and Sutlej rivers rise. Relief operations are underway, but healthcare services remain under heavy pressure due to the ongoing emergency.
Health experts stressed that despite the disruption, it is important for families in safe areas to fully cooperate with vaccination teams. Polio remains a serious threat, and the campaign is a key step to protect children from lifelong disability.
