ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to locally develop a polio vaccine in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Health, has reached out to UNICEF for support in this initiative. During a recent meeting with the Director of UNICEF’s Supply Chain Division, they discussed the health sector and the procurement of polio vaccines.
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UNICEF has committed to ensuring an uninterrupted supply of polio vaccines and assisting in the local production process.
Dr. Bharath emphasized that developing vaccines domestically will not only meet local demand but also help alleviate pressure on foreign exchange reserves. He reiterated the government’s dedication to boosting exports in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic, with the former reporting 32 cases this year.
