Pakistan seeks UNICEF support for vaccine manufacturing amid surge in polio cases

ISLAMABAD: In response to a significant rise in polio cases, the government of Pakistan has reached out to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for assistance in local manufacturing of the poliovirus vaccine. This initiative aims to address the urgent need for effective vaccination against the disease, which can cause paralysis in children.

During a meeting with UNICEF Supply Chain Division Director, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, emphasized the importance of developing the polio vaccine within Pakistan. The UNICEF director assured Bharath of continuous vaccine supplies and support for local vaccine production. He also mentioned that the United Nations would assist in building the capacity of Pakistan’s private sector.

Dr. Bharath highlighted that local vaccine production would not only fulfill the domestic demand but also alleviate pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. He reiterated the government's commitment to boosting pharmaceutical exports in line with the Prime Minister's vision, noting that producing the poliovirus vaccine locally could save millions in foreign currency.

Since June 2024, Pakistan has reported 32 cases of poliovirus, despite extensive vaccination campaigns. This year alone, Balochistan has documented 16 cases, Sindh 10, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 4, and one case each in the Islamabad Capital Territory and Punjab.

An advisory from the National Institute of Health (NIH) warned of a public health emergency, urging parents to vaccinate their children to protect against the poliovirus. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, called for urgent action from parents and communities, stating, “This should be a wake-up call. Every paralytic polio case indicates that many more children are silently affected and potentially spreading the virus.”

The NIH confirmed on Tuesday that wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was detected in two children from Jacobabad and one each from Karachi Malir and Dera Ismail Khan, bringing the total number of cases this year to 32.