Punjab Polio Campaign November 2026: 9.3 Million Children in 13 Districts

The Punjab Polio Campaign November 2026 began on 2 November 2026, and it aims to protect more than 9.3 million children under the age of five in 13 districts of the province. According to the latest official announcement from the Punjab Emergency Operations Centre, this is the fifth polio vaccination campaign in Punjab this year and the third round of Sub-National Immunization Days. Vaccination teams are visiting homes, so parents do not need to travel to a hospital or a centre to get the drops for their children.

Which Districts Are Covered in This Round

• Full district list: Bhakkar, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kot Addu, Lahore, Layyah, Mianwali, Multan, Murree, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi and Rahim Yar Khan are included.
• Lahore target: Lahore has the largest target, with more than 2.28 million children to be vaccinated during its seven-day campaign.
• Rahim Yar Khan target: Rahim Yar Khan follows with a target of more than 1.14 million children under five.
• Multan target: Multan aims to vaccinate more than one million children in this round of the campaign.
• Rawalpindi target: Rawalpindi has a target of about 990,000 children, so teams there will also work at full strength.
• District focus: The 13 districts were selected for this sub-national round, while other districts will be covered in future rounds.

How Long the Campaign Runs in Each District

• Lahore schedule: Lahore runs for seven days, from 2 to 8 November, followed by two additional days for follow-up visits.
• Other districts: The remaining 12 districts run a four-day campaign, with three days of vaccination and one day for follow-up.
• Follow-up purpose: Follow-up days are used to reach children who were missed on the first visit for any reason.
• Missed child rule: A child who was away from home on the first visit can still be vaccinated on a follow-up day.
• National window: Across Pakistan, the sub-national campaign runs from 2 to 8 November in 97 selected districts.
• Lahore difference: Lahore needs seven days because it must reach more than 2.28 million children, the largest target in Punjab.

Who Must Get the Polio Drops

• Age limit: Only children under five years of age are covered by this door-to-door campaign.
• Repeat doses: Children must receive drops in every campaign, no matter how many times they have been vaccinated before.
• Newborn babies: Even very young babies in the covered age group should be vaccinated when the team visits.
• Sick children: Parents of a sick child should ask the vaccination team on the spot, rather than skipping the visit.
• Visitors: A child visiting relatives in a covered district during the campaign should also be vaccinated there.
• Nursery children: Children under five who attend a nursery or daycare should still be vaccinated at home during the campaign.

How Vaccination Teams Will Reach Your Home

• Mobile teams: There are 31,869 mobile teams going door to door in neighbourhoods across the 13 districts.
• Fixed teams: There are 1,776 fixed teams at set points for families who prefer to visit a nearby point.
• Transit teams: There are 1,150 transit teams at bus stops, markets and other high-mobility places.
• Supervision: The campaign is supported by 1,211 Union Council Medical Officers and 6,205 Area In-Charges.
• Union councils: The campaign covers 1,161 union councils, so planning reaches down to street level.

What Parents Should Do When the Team Arrives

• Open the door: Welcome the team and bring every child under five in the house to the door.
• Keep the card ready: Keep the child vaccination card ready if you have one, so the dose can be recorded.
• Ask questions: Ask the team any question about the drops before they leave, rather than worrying afterwards.
• Check the finger mark: The team marks the child finger after vaccination, which shows the dose was given.
• Inform neighbours: Tell neighbours with small children that the team is in the street, so no child is missed.

Why This Campaign Matters for Punjab

• Eighth case in 2026: Pakistan confirmed its eighth polio case of 2026 on 1 November, involving a 13-month-old girl in Khyber district.
• Immunity gaps: Repeated rounds close immunity gaps in children who missed earlier doses for any reason.
• 2027 outlook: Health authorities are planning further campaigns through June 2027 to sustain immunity.
• Community role: Community cooperation decides whether a campaign reaches every child or leaves gaps behind.
• Routine immunisation: Polio drops in campaigns work alongside routine immunisation, not instead of it.

Conclusion

The Punjab Polio Campaign November 2026 is a short, focused chance to protect more than 9.3 million small children, and it costs parents nothing but a few minutes at the door. If you live in one of the 13 districts, make sure every child under five in your home gets the drops, and remind your neighbours to do the same. One missed child can keep the virus alive in a street, while one complete round brings Punjab closer to a polio-free future.

FAQs

When does the Punjab polio campaign end? It runs until 8 November in Lahore, while the other 12 districts complete their work in four days, plus follow-up visits.

Does my child need drops again if vaccinated before? Yes, every child under five must receive drops in every campaign, even after earlier doses.

Is there any fee for polio drops? No, the drops given by vaccination teams during the campaign are completely free.

What if my district is not in the list? This is a sub-national round, so only the 13 listed districts are covered, and other districts will be included in future rounds.