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Pakistan begins final polio vaccination campaign of the year amid uptick in cases and insecurity

Pakistan has launched its final polio vaccination campaign of the year, aiming to immunize over 44.3 million children under the age of five. This initiative comes in response to a concerning increase in polio cases, with six new cases reported this year, all from the Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The campaign faces significant challenges due to security issues, particularly in regions where militant groups have previously attacked vaccination teams, leading to the deaths of over 100 health workers since 2012. Despite these obstacles, the effort is critical as Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic. The vaccination drive, which began on November 27, 2023, and will continue until December 3, 2023, is part of a broader strategy to eradicate polio, with support from international health organizations like the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/pakistan-begins-final-polio-vaccination-campaign-of-the-year-amid-uptick-in-cases-and-insecurity/ar-AA1w0DVm ]