Countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan Source: Global Polio Eradication Initiative From 13 to 19 April 2026, a nationwide vaccination campaign in Pakistan reached 44.8 million children. Simultaneously, Afghanistan launched its first nationwide campaign of 2026, reaching 12.8 million children under 5. Vitamin A was co-administered to children between 6β59 months in both countries. The synchronized effort reflects a simple but powerful reality. Poliovirus does not stop at borders, and neither can the response. Despite ongoing geopolitical stresses, both countries have continued to support technical coordination through long-standing cross-border mechanisms. This collaboration is essential in the 2 remaining endemic countries for wild poliovirus globally. Afghanistan and Pakistan form a single epidemiological bloc where transmission on one side of the border directly affects the other. By aligning campaign timing and strategies, the 2 programmes are working to stop transmission on both sides of the border β protecting communities that are among the most vulnerable and hardest to reach. In the early 1990s, Pakistan and Afghanistan experienced a high burden of polio, with Pakistan reporting an estimated 20 000 cases annually and Afghanistan approximately 2000. Due to intensified eradication efforts since 1994 under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan have decreased dramatically. As of May 2026, six cases have been reported across both countries. Reaching children in the most challenging conditions Delivering vaccination campaigns at this scale is never simple. In areas affected by insecurity, population movement and limited infrastructure, reaching every child requires extraordinary efforts. βI go house to house to make sure no child is left behind in vaccination. I am thankful to Allah that the work we are doing is a good deed. InshaAllah we will end polio soon and children will be healthy and safe,β says Faiza, a polio worker in Islamabad, Pakistan. Faiza is one of more than 413 000 frontline polio workers β many of them women β trained and mobilized by the World Health Organization (WHO) under the leadership of the Government of Pakistan who went door to door to bring the lifesaving polio vaccine to every child. They navigate difficult terrain and, at times, volatile conditions. Their work is supported by detailed microplanning, community engagement and real-time monitoring to ensure that even the most remote and underserved populations are included. In Afghanistan, under the optimized site-to-site vaccination approach, families were encouraged to bring their children to designated vaccination points located close to their homes, ensuring easier and more equitable access. Rostam Moheb, one of the 42 000 vaccinators engaged in the campaign, has been vaccinating children against polio for the past 4 years. Driven by a deep sense of purpose, he continues his work with a simple but powerful hope: to see a future where no child in Afghanistan β or anywhere in the world β suffers from polio. A commitment shared beyond borders The ongoing campaigns are a powerful reminder that even in challenging times, collaboration is possible, and essential. Eradicating polio has long been a unifying effort, bringing together countries, communities and partners across political and geographic divides. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, cooperation is not theoretical β it is operational, sustained and focused on a single goal: protecting children. The synchronized campaigns build on progress made in recent years, as both countries intensify efforts to strengthen population immunity and close remaining gaps. Today, wild poliovirus transmission is confined to a small number of areas globally. But as recent detections in other parts of the world have shown, the risk of international spread persists until eradication is achieved. With transmission now limited to the last remaining reservoirs, there is a critical window to interrupt the virus for good. Sustained efforts, including high-quality campaigns, strong surveillance and cross-border coordination are essential to success. Aprilβs synchronized campaigns are a step toward that goal, demonstrating what is possible when countries and partners act together with urgency and purpose. These efforts are led by the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the support of global and regional partners, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Germany, the Gates Foundation and Rotary International, among others. Together, they are helping ensure that no child, anywhere, is paralysed by polio. Pakistan: protecting millions against polio with support from KSrelief Support provided by donors like KSrelief has been instrumental in ensuring WHO polio operations in Pakistan. Find out more about the impact of their contributions during the second nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026 via the WHO EMRO website.