Dubai: At least 71 children have died of measles across Pakistan in the first four months of 2026, with Sindh accounting for the highest toll, as health authorities warn of widening immunisation gaps and a growing pool of unvaccinated children, Dawn reported.Official data shows that Sindh recorded 40 of the 71 deaths, followed by 12 each in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and four in Balochistan. The figures come as the country marks World Immunisation Week 2026 from April 24 to 30, themed “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work”.The rising death toll mirrors a broader surge in infections. A total of 4,541 confirmed measles cases were reported nationwide in the first quarter alone, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leading at 1,712 cases, followed by Punjab (1,198), Sindh (1,183), Balochistan (197), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (151), Islamabad (55), and Gilgit-Baltistan (45).Measles cases rose 79 per cent globally last year: WHOHealth experts say the spike is largely driven by a backlog of children who missed routine vaccinations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Raj Kumar, Programme Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in Sindh, said a “large cohort of unvaccinated children” had emerged during that period.Spike in measles cases across the Americas: Regional health body issues alert“While overall vaccination coverage has improved, certain districts continue to witness repeated outbreaks,” he said, identifying Khairpur and parts of northern Sindh as hotspots. Authorities are now deploying targeted strategies to plug these gaps, alongside intensified outreach campaigns.Officials also pointed to progress in reaching so-called “zero-dose” children — those who have never received a single vaccine.
According to the Sindh EPI, between 40,000 and 50,000 such children are now being covered during each anti-polio drive. The provincial government has also increased funding and expanded its vaccinator workforce to strengthen routine immunisation.At a glance71 deaths reported nationwide in first four months of 2026 Sindh worst hit: 40 deaths Punjab, KP: 12 deaths each Balochistan: 4 deaths 4,541 confirmed cases in first quarter KP: 1,712 Punjab: 1,198 Sindh: 1,183 1 million+ “zero-dose” children (never vaccinated) 58% children unimmunised or under-immunised Key cause: Covid-era vaccination gaps Major challenge: Vaccine hesitancy Polio still a threat: 1 case reported in 2026 Govt response: More funding, vaccinators, targeted drivePersistent public resistanceDespite these efforts, Pakistan continues to grapple with persistent public resistance.
Vaccine hesitancy remains a key barrier, with parents in some communities reluctant to immunise their children despite free availability of vaccines at government centres.Dr Khalid Shafi of the Pakistan Paediatric Association stressed the need for more effective public awareness campaigns and greater deployment of female vaccinators to build trust at the community level. “Parents are still hesitant, putting children at serious risk,” he warned.Concerns extend beyond measles. Polio remains endemic, with one case reported this year in Sujawal, Sindh.
Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases in 2024 and 31 in 2025, while environmental samples continue to show widespread virus circulation, although officials say positivity rates have recently declined.The Pakistan Medical Association has sounded the alarm over what it calls a deepening “zero-dose” crisis. It estimates that more than one million children in Pakistan have never received any vaccination, leaving nearly 58 per cent of children either unimmunised or under-immunised.“Pakistan lags far behind regional peers like China and Iran, where immunisation coverage exceeds 95 per cent, and India and Bangladesh, which have crossed 90 per cent,” said Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro of the association.He called for urgent investment in local vaccine manufacturing, expansion of digital immunisation registries, and mobile outreach teams to reach underserved populations, alongside stronger protection for healthcare workers.Without sustained intervention, experts warn, preventable diseases like measles could continue to claim young lives despite the availability of effective vaccines.