The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Pakistan have launched a large-scale effort to train over 140,000 health workers ahead of a nationwide measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaign. Scheduled from 17 to 29 November 2025, the drive aims to immunize 35.4 million children between six and 59 months of age. This preventive campaign seeks to close an immunity gap that could otherwise leave 6.7 million young children vulnerable to infection in 2026.
In high-risk districts, children under five will also receive oral polio vaccines in coordination with Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). This joint effort between PEI and the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) demonstrates Pakistan’s integrated approach to preventing multiple vaccine-preventable diseases.
Supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO is conducting cascade-style training sessions for vaccinators, team assistants, and social mobilizers. The training focuses on microplanning, safe injection practices, community engagement, and managing adverse events following immunization (AEFI). WHO’s technical assistance extends to campaign planning, data analysis, readiness assessments, and monitoring in close coordination with the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) and provincial EPI teams.
Measles and rubella continue to pose serious public health challenges in Pakistan, with outbreaks reported in 432 Union Councils across 101 districts. The 2025 incidence rate of 80 measles cases per million is four times higher than WHO’s threshold for large outbreaks. Over half of the 16,000 reported cases this year were among zero-dose children — those who have never received a measles vaccine — highlighting the urgency of improving immunization coverage.
FDI Director General Dr. Soofia Yunus emphasized that protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases remains a top national priority, describing the campaign as a vital step toward a healthier and more resilient Pakistan. WHO Representative Dr. Luo Dapeng reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in this effort, stressing that vaccines save lives and that every child deserves protection regardless of their location or circumstances.
