A vaccinator administering a routine dose in a remote area of Pakistan. Photo credit: WHO Pakistan23 March 2025, Islamabad, Pakistan – During the first and second rounds of the Big Catch-Up immunization campaign, the World Health Organization (WHO) partnered with the Government of Pakistan to administer lifesaving vaccines to 2.8 million children who missed routine doses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or for any other reason.
The second phase of the campaign concluded this week. Over 1.3 million children were vaccinated in February and March, building on the first round which, between October and December 2024, reached 1.5 million children. Over 358 000 of the children vaccinated had never received an immunization dose. To ensure continued vigilance and high immunization coverage a third and final round is planned for the second half of 2025.
The initiative, which is led by the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) and its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), in partnership with provincial EPIs, was supported by WHO and partners with funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Activities were implemented in synergy with the Polio Eradication Programme and mutual support – including frontline workers, monitoring and resources – was provided to ensure maximum reach.
“The overwhelming success of the second round of the Big Catch Up demonstrates the dedication of the Government of Pakistan and its vaccinators working on the frontlines to safeguard children against preventable diseases,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo. “Vaccines work and save lives. WHO will continue to support and partner with Pakistan to deliver health for all and leave no child behind.”
The campaign focused on vaccinating children aged 12–59 months who had missed routine immunization doses, particularly in 83 high-risk districts.
To ensure maximum reach, over 65 000 teams, comprising skilled health care workers and dedicated social mobilizers, were deployed across Pakistan’s provinces and self-governing territories. This is the first time that routine immunization activity for children beyond 2 years has been implemented on such a large scale. Special arrangements were made to ensure vaccine availability for children aged up to 5 years. EPI usually provides routine vaccination for children up to the age of 2.
WHO Pakistan extends its gratitude to the FDI and crucial partners like Gavi and UNICEF for their unwavering commitment to strengthening routine immunization services in Pakistan and reaching every child, particularly in remote and underserved areas, to build a healthier and more resilient nation.
For additional information, please contact:
Maryam Yunus, National Professional Officer – Communications, WHO Pakistan,
José Ignacio Martín Galán, Head of Communications, WHO Pakistan,
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