The anti-polio vaccination campaign has been postponed in nine flood-hit districts of Punjab, including Multan and Muzaffargarh, as authorities shift focus to relief and rescue operations.
The campaign will begin as scheduled in other parts of the country from September 1.
According to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), the vaccination drive has been suspended in Multan, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur. These districts are among the worst affected by ongoing floods, which have displaced thousands of families.
Health officials said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of vaccination teams and families living in submerged areas.
Campaign to continue in unaffected districts
Despite the disruption in South Punjab, the anti-polio campaign will go ahead in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Attock, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. Nationwide, the campaign will officially launch on September 1.
The NEOC has appealed to parents to fully cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that every child under five receives polio drops.
Multan, one of the hardest-hit cities in Southern Punjab, has seen mass evacuations as floodwaters rise in Chenab and Sutlej rivers. Relief efforts are ongoing, but officials warn that healthcare services, including vaccination drives, are under severe strain.
