A four-day anti-polio vaccination campaign started in the Federal capital on Monday, aiming to reach 447,614 children, officials said. The drive will continue until April 16, 2026, with teams visiting homes for three days and the last day set aside to cover missed children.The campaign is the second anti-polio drive of 2026 in the capital.

According to the district administration, the effort focuses on vaccinating every child upto the age of five years to prevent the spread of the virus. Health teams have been deployed across urban and rural areas to meet the target set for the campaign.Officials said the first three days of the drive will follow a door-to-door strategy. Polio workers will visit houses to administer drops to children under the age of five.

The fourth day will be observed as a catch-up day to ensure that children who were not available during earlier visits are also vaccinated.Assistant Commissioners took part in morning assemblies organized for polio workers at different locations. These gatherings were held to review arrangements, assign duties, and brief teams on field activities. Officials stressed the need for full coverage in all sectors to meet the campaign target.

In addition to door-to-door visits, special vaccination camps have been set up at hospitals, public places, and schools.These camps are meant to facilitate access for families who may not be available at home during the campaign days. Health workers at these points are providing polio drops and guiding parents about the importance of vaccination.Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Memon said that polio teams will reach every household during the campaign.

He said the administration has made arrangements to ensure that no child is left out. He also urged parents to make sure their children receive the vaccine during the visit of health teams.The district administration has appealed to residents to cooperate with polio workers. Officials said community support is necessary to achieve full coverage and protect children from the disease.

Parents have been requested to check that their children receive polio drops and to inform teams if any child has been missed.Health authorities said that repeated campaigns are carried out to maintain immunity levels among children. They added that each round plays a role in preventing the virus from spreading in the community.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)