Rumours remain biggest hurdle in Karachi’s polio fight: EOC

PPEI expert says intensified vaccination needed as virus risks persist

IV Report

KARACHI: The Sindh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Friday announced that it was set to launch a polio booster dose campaign in 89 high-risk union councils of Karachi from May 12 to 25, aiming to strengthen immunity among children and interrupt poliovirus transmission.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Karachi Press Club, EOC Coordinator Sheheryar Memon said Karachi was moving closer to polio eradication, but misinformation and rumours continued to pose major challenges to the campaign.

Children up to 10 years of age will receive the booster dose during the drive, which targets areas considered vulnerable to persistent virus circulation.

Members of the Sindh Polio Eradication Programme, health experts, paediatricians and health reporters attended the briefing. To build public confidence, Mr Memon and several journalists received booster doses during the session.

Mr Memon said vaccination coverage in Sindh had improved significantly and vaccine refusals were gradually declining due to sustained awareness campaigns and community engagement.

Dr Sundeep Sahitia, Epidemiologist, Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative, Sindh, termed the booster campaign a critical intervention for protecting children against poliovirus, stressing that intensified vaccination efforts remained necessary despite a sharp global decline in polio cases.

He noted that Karachi remained a high-risk zone because of persistent virus circulation and population movement.

“The polio booster dose is free, safe and essential for every eligible child,” he said, urging parents to cooperate with frontline workers during the campaign.

Officials said vaccinators had undergone extensive training focused on safe vaccine administration and community engagement. 

Photo source: Sindh EOC

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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