Over 32 Million Kids In Pakistan To Receive Anti-Polio Vaccine

January 21, 2008 10:50 p.m. EST

Islamabad, Pakistan (AHN) - An estimated 32 million Pakistani children will receive an anti-polio vaccine as Islamabad launched a three-day, nationwide "Polio Immunization" plan.

According to Dr. Mohammad Amjad, Pakistani Minister for Inter Provincial coordination, the door-to-door campaign will immunize children under 5-years-old. The government has dispatched some 86,000 experts across the country to provide the polio drops.

Since the campaign was launched, Amjad said cases of polio in Pakistan have dropped significantly. In 2007, only 31 cases of polio were reported.

Amjad expressed confidence Pakistan will soon achieve polio-free country status with the help of foreign partners providing financial assistance to the program.