Japan Gives $4.3m for Pakistan Polio Vaccines
Japan has announced a new $4.3 million grant for Pakistan polio vaccines, in fresh support for the country’s drive to wipe out the disease. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative will use the funds to procure more than 28 million vaccine doses for campaigns in 2027.
The Japanese embassy announced the grant in a press release on Friday. It is the latest in a partnership that has run since 1996, when Japan first began backing Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.
Pakistan polio vaccines: what the grant will fund
The money will pay for the purchase and delivery of oral polio vaccines, the drops given to children in door-to-door campaigns across the country. Each national immunisation drive targets more than 45 million children under five, supported by over 400,000 frontline health workers.
The grant has been increased from last year, according to the Japanese ambassador. It will fund the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative through the 2027 campaign season, when the programme aims to reach every child who missed earlier rounds.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, said the contribution came at a critical time. “The Government of Japan’s contribution comes at a critical time as Pakistan intensifies its efforts to interrupt poliovirus transmission and eliminate this preventable disease,” she said.
“Every dose of vaccine supported through Japan’s contribution brings us closer to a polio-free Pakistan,” she added. “We are grateful to the Government and people of Japan for their continued commitment and partnership in Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio and protect every child.”
Cases fall, but the last miles are the hardest
Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus transmission has not yet been eliminated. The other is Afghanistan. That fact shapes every campaign, since the virus can cross borders and return to areas that had cleared it.
The country has made clear progress. Cases fell from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025, with eight cases reported so far in 2026. Six of the eight cases this year came from south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where insecurity and access constraints still make it hard to reach every child.
The government has drawn up a National Emergency Action Plan for 2026-27 under its Roadmap to Zero, setting out a focused approach to interrupt poliovirus transmission by the end of 2027. The plan targets the districts where the virus still circulates and the children who missed earlier doses.
Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Pakistan’s health priorities. “Since 1996, Japan has consistently supported Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, working closely with Unicef and other partners,” he said. “Today’s new grant, which has been increased from last year, demonstrates Japan’s continued support for our shared goal of achieving a polio-free Pakistan.”
“Japan fully supports Pakistan’s determination to achieve the goal of interrupting poliovirus transmission by the end of 2027,” the ambassador added.
Why the grant matters now
The 28 million doses funded by the grant will cover part of the 2027 campaign rounds, but the challenge is not only supply. Health workers must reach children in areas where roads are poor, security is weak, or families move often. South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where most of this year’s cases appeared, shows how access gaps keep the virus alive.
Japan’s support has stayed steady for three decades, and the increase this year signals confidence in the programme’s direction. The test will come in the 2027 campaigns, when the doses bought with this grant reach children across the country.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is Japan’s polio grant?
Japan announced a $4.3 million grant to procure essential oral polio vaccines for Pakistan. The grant has been increased from last year.
How many vaccine doses will the grant buy?
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative will use the funds to procure more than 28 million vaccine doses for polio campaigns in 2027.
How many polio cases has Pakistan reported in 2026?
Eight cases have been reported so far in 2026, down from 31 in 2025 and 74 in 2024. Six of the eight cases this year came from south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
How many children do polio campaigns target?
Each national immunisation drive targets more than 45 million children under five, supported by over 400,000 frontline health workers.
When does Pakistan aim to stop polio transmission?
The National Emergency Action Plan 2026-27 aims to interrupt poliovirus transmission by the end of 2027. Pakistan is one of only two countries where wild poliovirus still circulates.
