The anti-polio vaccination campaign has been put on hold in nine flood-affected districts of Punjab, including Multan and Muzaffargarh, as authorities divert resources to relief and rescue operations.
According to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), the campaign has been suspended in Multan, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur — areas among the worst hit by the ongoing floods that have displaced thousands.
Health officials said the suspension aims to safeguard both vaccination teams and families stranded in submerged localities.
Campaign Uninterrupted in Other Areas
Despite setbacks in flood-hit districts, the polio drive will proceed in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Attock, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, with the nationwide launch confirmed for September 1.
The NEOC urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams to ensure every child under five receives polio drops.
Multan, one of the hardest-hit cities, continues to face mass evacuations as floodwaters swell in the Chenab and Sutlej rivers. Relief and healthcare services remain under immense pressure.
