Pakistan launches polio vaccination drive amid coronavirus surge

A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child in Lahore, Pakistan (KM Chaudary/AP)

Pakistani authorities launched this year’s first nationwide anti-polio campaign even as coronavirus infections surge.

About 150,000 health workers are taking part in the five-day, anti-polio drive to inoculate 22.4 million children under age five, according to a statement issued by Shahzad Beg, the coordinator for polio programme.