Pakistan has reached its highest recorded level of childhood immunisation coverage, with over 81 percent of children aged 12 to 23 months fully vaccinated, as revealed by an independent national survey released recently. This marks a substantial rise from 53.8 percent in 2013, demonstrating significant progress in the country’s routine immunisation efforts.
The Third-Party Verification Immunization Coverage Survey (TPVICS) Round 3, presented at a national meeting in Bhurban, found that in 2026, 81.3 percent of children in the target age group were fully immunised. This survey was independently conducted under the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) within the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, with technical support from the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health at Aga Khan University and financial assistance from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Gates Foundation.
Notably, the survey highlighted a sharp reduction in zero-dose children—those who have not received any routine vaccines. The estimated number of such children aged 12 to 23 months dropped to approximately 160,000 in 2026 from about 308,700 in 2022, a decrease of nearly 48.2 percent. Correspondingly, the national proportion of zero-dose children declined from 4.9 percent in 2022 to 2.5 percent this year.
Meanwhile, the percentage of partially immunised children also fell significantly to 16.2 percent from 40.8 percent in 2013, indicating that more children are completing their full vaccination schedules. Health officials attribute these improvements to sustained efforts to strengthen routine immunisation programs and enhance vaccine access in underserved areas.
“The survey offers independently verified proof of Pakistan’s notable progress in expanding routine immunisation services over the past decade,” stated the Federal Directorate of Immunisation. It showed that more than four out of five children now receive the complete series of recommended vaccines compared to just over half in 2013.
Provincial data revealed progress across all regions, though disparities remain. Punjab led with 90.0 percent of children fully immunised, up from 65.6 percent in 2013, and only 0.4 percent of children not immunised. Sindh showed remarkable gains, increasing full immunisation coverage to 74.6 percent from 29.1 percent, while zero-dose children decreased from 8.5 percent to 2.8 percent.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa improved to 71.5 percent full immunisation coverage from 52.7 percent but still has relatively higher numbers of under-immunised children compared to Punjab. Balochistan, historically the lowest performing province, more than tripled its coverage to 56.6 percent from 16.4 percent, though 13.4 percent of children there remain unvaccinated.
Among other regions, Azad Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest coverage at 92.2 percent, a slight increase from 90.2 percent, while Islamabad maintained strong performance with only 0.4 percent of children not immunised. Gilgit-Baltistan saw a marginal decline to 70.2 percent from 70.5 percent.
In a significant development, officials emphasized that these independently verified results will guide federal and provincial authorities in identifying districts with remaining immunisation gaps and help target resources more effectively to reach unvaccinated children or those not completing vaccination schedules. Dr Musa Khan, Director General of the Federal Directorate of Immunization, affirmed, “We will not remain stagnant and will continue working to improve immunisation coverage across Pakistan.”
Dr Sajid Soofi, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health at Aga Khan University, acknowledged the extensive fieldwork involved in conducting the nationwide survey despite operational challenges, praising the dedication of field teams who collected data from every district.
The government plans to leverage these findings to further expand routine immunisation services, reduce dropout rates, improve equitable vaccine access, and ensure all zero-dose children are reached. Routine immunisation remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s public health strategy against vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, and hepatitis B.
This latest survey provides the most robust independent evidence to date of ongoing improvements in childhood vaccination coverage nationwide. However, health authorities stress that sustained investment is essential to close the remaining gaps, especially in underserved and remote communities.
