ISLAMABAD — Pakistan is grappling with an alarming rise in the number of unvaccinated children, with public health officials sounding the alarm over the impact this could have on the fight against preventable diseases.
According to the latest survey findings, hundreds of thousands of children across the country have never received a single routine immunization. Rural areas and urban slums are bearing the brunt of this crisis, driven by limited access to healthcare, vaccine misinformation, and social mistrust.
Health officials say these unvaccinated children face a higher risk of measles, polio, and whooping cough, potentially reversing years of progress against childhood infections. Parents in vulnerable districts often miss vaccination sessions because of long distances to health centers and lack of follow-up reminders.
The government, with support from international health agencies, has ramped up its immunization campaigns in response. Mobile teams and local health workers are being deployed to reach these communities, while public awareness drives aim to counter myths about vaccine safety.
Although targeted efforts have shown promise in some areas, experts stress that sustainable solutions will require deeper community engagement, better healthcare funding, and strengthened local health networks to close these troubling gaps.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
