Karachi Commissioner Reviews Polio Campaign Coverage In Keamari, Directs Doctor Supervision For Sick Children

During the campaign's fourth day, Syed Hassan Naqvi was briefed on missed and zero-dose children, while officials said seriously ill children would be vaccinated after recovery and minor illnesses would not prevent vaccination. KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Nov, 2026) Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi visited Ittehad Town in District Keamari on the fourth day of the ongoing anti-polio campaign to review its performance and assess efforts to improve vaccination coverage. Deputy Commissioner Keamari Sattar Hakro, Coordinator of the Polio Task Force Saud Yaqub, the District Health Officer and other officials briefed the Commissioner in detail on the campaign's progress and measures being taken to improve vaccination coverage. The Commissioner emphasized that special priority must be given to reaching children who were previously missed or whose parents had refused vaccination. He said focused efforts were essential to ensure that all eligible children were covered. He also reviewed the arrangements and performance relating to the vaccination of sick children. He directed that vaccination of such children must be carried out under the supervision of doctors and should not be administered without their approval. He further stressed that relevant doctors and medical specialists must remain available alongside polio teams throughout the campaign. During the visit, the Commissioner also received briefings from doctors, polio workers, area in-charges and monitoring teams. He was informed that medical officers and paediatric specialists are included in the campaign teams at the Union Council level. Their assistance is also sought to counsel parents and address their concerns regarding polio vaccination. Officials explained that no separate numerical target or quota is fixed for sick children during the campaign. All children under five years of age, including those suffering from minor illnesses such as colds, coughs and mild fever, are required to receive polio drops. This is particularly important to protect children who may be more vulnerable to the virus due to weakened immunity. Medical staff are trained to ensure that children with minor illnesses also receive the two drops of the polio vaccine. However, children who are seriously ill are not vaccinated immediately. They are followed up, and vaccination is administered once they have fully recovered. Meanwhile, the Commissioner's Office has released details of polio vaccination coverage for the third day of the campaign. According to the figures, the door-to-door household coverage rate stood at 86 per cent, while zero-dose coverage was recorded at 37 per cent. According to the details district-wise figures showed coverage of 61 per cent in district Central, 56 per cent in district East, 59 per cent in Keamari, 58 per cent in Korangi, 62 per cent in Malir, 63 per cent in South and 61 per cent in district West.