A critical overview of the recent resurgence of polio in Pakistan as a public health concern for millions of children

Pakistan is the second largest country in South Asia. Despite significant national efforts from both central and state governments, Pakistan is still one of only two countries with continuous transmission of the wild poliovirus and active cases of poliomyelitis rendering millions of children with threat of lifelong disability. The purpose of this Perspective is to highlight the impending public health threat, identify and highlight the root causes of failure of Pakistan to eradicate polio, and call for a collective effort to combat the resurgence and eradicate this crippling illness from the country. Certain populations, such as children in rural areas, are more vulnerable. Many families either lack awareness or believe false information about the vaccine. Although Pakistan has implemented a range of interventions, such as National Wide Vaccination Campaigns, which have helped in the past, there are still gaps in planning and follow-up. In conjunction with religious and political strife, the challenges of eradicating the virus have been further compounded by the impacts of COVID-19, widespread flooding, and recurring infectious disease outbreaks. Misconceptions about vaccines and attacks on vaccination teams serve as significant barriers in failure to achieve the goal of polio eradication. Inconsistent governance and weak accountability systems are equally contributing factors to the failure of Pakistan in eradication of polio. Considering the factors contributing to the resurgence, we provide recommendations to introduce and implement robust vaccination to achieve the goal of polio-free Pakistan.