The government of Pakistan has decided to administer inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) injections to children up to 15 years old in an effort to combat the polio virus, ARY News reported citing sources. According to sources, the initiative, driven by recommendations from global anti-polio organizations, will target children in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar during a special campaign over the next four months.

The IPV injections, acting as a booster, aim to significantly enhance immunity against polio, particularly amid concerns over weakened immunity contributing to the spread of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1). The campaign, set to begin with a phased rollout, will see children vaccinated in a single day per phase to boost their immune response.

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG), a global panel of polio experts for Pakistan and Afghanistan, recommended the IPV campaign during a meeting in Islamabad last week. Vaccines for the initiative will be provided by international organizations, ensuring a robust response to curb the virus’s spread.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)