Pakistan polio drive to vaccinate 37m children

Pakistan has launched its first nationwide polio vaccination drive, aiming to reach tens of millions of children.

Dr Rana Mohammad Safdar, the national coordinator for polio eradication, said yesterday that 250,000 campaigners would try to reach more than 37 million children under the age of five in the next four days.

Islamic extremists have targeted previous campaigns in Pakistan, alleging that the vaccines are part of a Western plot to harm Muslims.