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10 March 2026, Islamabad, Pakistan – “Integrating polio drops in the measles-rubella campaign meant we used the opportunity to reach vulnerable populations with 3 essential vaccines, doubling our public health delivery on the spot.” Polio frontline worker Mahnoor Ali perfectly summarized the spirit that led Pakistan to administer the oral polio vaccine during the measles-rubella vaccination campaign supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in late 2025. The result: in addition to protecting 34 million children from measles-rubella nationwide, over 19 million were also protected from paralytic polio across 88 high-risk districts.
Mahnoor is among the 140,000 health workers and supervisors who were trained and mobilized by WHO – in partnership with the Government of Pakistan – to conduct a vaccination campaign led by Pakistan’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in collaboration with the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI).
The measles-rubella campaign was launched as a critical response to a surging epidemic threat. With the country registering over 17,000 measles cases in 2025 (as of November), reaching every eligible child – aged 6 months to 59 months – was a race against time.
Polio worker Mahnoor provides polio drops alongside routine immunization teams in Islamabad during Pakistan’s national measles-rubella vaccination campaign conducted in partnership with WHO in November 2025. Photo credit: Ayesha Javed
The campaign marked a further step in the collaboration between the routine immunization and polio programmes.
Resources mobilized for the measles-rubella campaign provided an opportunity to reinforce polio coverage in targeted districts. At the same time, as social mobilizer Hina Riaz from Sheikhupura (Punjab province) explained, the efforts to safeguard children from measles-rubella benefited from the field presence and trust built by polio frontline workers through door-to-door campaigns. “I knock on every door, using the previous door markings to know exactly how many eligible children live there. When they recognize us, they trust us as the local connection that ensures every child is protected,” says Riaz.
During the drive, outreach vaccination sites became crucial spaces to reach every child. Aminah, waited patiently at one of the points established in Lahore, quiet determination on her face. “When it comes to my children, their health is my priority,” she said. “I saw how sick my neighbour’s child became from measles. Knowing that my children are now protected is a relief.”
Aminah with her two children during the national measles-rubella vaccination campaign in Lahore, Pakistan, in November 2025. Photo credit: Ayesha Javed.
WHO’s collaboration with the Government of Pakistan wasn’t just about administering vaccines; it was about science- and evidence-based delivery to protect children aged 6 months to 59 months. To that end, WHO utilized surveillance data to pinpoint targeted vulnerable areas.
In one of the targeted areas in Islamabad, vaccinator Najma Shaheen highlighted the personal touch. “When a parent hesitated, I would listen patiently and carefully explain how the vaccine builds protection. We won their confidence dose by dose.”
The community trust built thanks to the hard work of frontline health workers has become a public health shield for present and future generations.
The measles–rubella campaign received financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. On the polio programme side, for the 2024–2025 biennium, WHO operations in Pakistan were supported by contributions from Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, Canada, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Germany, United States of America, the Gates Foundation and Rotary International.
WHO staff and social mobilizer Hina Riaz in Sheikhupura, Punjab province, Pakistan, engage with a family during the national measles-rubella vaccination campaign implemented in late November 2025. Photo credit: Ayesha Javed.
One campaign to fight three public health threats
Measles, rubella and polio constitute national, regional and global public health threats.
Measles is highly contagious and poses life-threatening risks, especially for children under 5. The most severe cases affect zero-dose children – those who have not received any routine vaccine. Rubella can also be deadly for pregnant women and unborn babies.
Polio is a disease that has no cure and can cause lifelong paralysis or death.
In Pakistan, the Polio Eradication Programme is intensifying the polio response and has reduced polio cases by 99.8% over the past 30 years, proving polio vaccines work, are safe and save lives.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last two endemic countries, and they are both running the last mile to ensure a polio-free world for every child, no matter where they live or who they are.
