WHO and Gavi Deliver Motorbikes to Boost Vaccination in Pakistan
WHO and Gavi Equip Pakistan’s Vaccinators with 800 Motorbikes to Improve Immunization in Remote Regions
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has delivered over 800 motorbikes to Pakistan’s Expanded Programme on Immunization in a major initiative aimed at strengthening vaccination efforts in 65 high-priority districts. The move is expected to significantly improve access for vaccinators to hard-to-reach and underserved communities, benefitting approximately 32.5 million people across the country.
Under a targeted allocation plan, 300 motorbikes were sent to 21 districts in Sindh, 200 to 10 districts in Punjab, and 108 to 24 districts in Balochistan. Additional distributions include 80 motorbikes each to districts in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Islamabad, and 60 to four districts in Gilgit Baltistan.
Distribution began in March 2025, with the new vehicles gradually handed over to health workers nationwide. These motorbikes are intended to enhance the reach of vaccinators, particularly in neighborhoods where large numbers of children have never been vaccinated, or remain under-immunized. Implementation of this support is informed by micro-plans developed with technical assistance from WHO at the union council level, focusing on monitoring and reducing equity barriers to ensure immunization coverage for every child.
Dr. Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan, emphasized the impact of the initiative, stating, “These motorbikes aim to support the vaccinators who work tirelessly to reach the most vulnerable, wherever they are. Every 10 seconds, vaccination saves a life. Since the foundation of the Pakistan Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1978 in partnership with WHO, vaccines have saved and protected millions of lives in Pakistan. WHO will continue to support Pakistan to protect every child with lifesaving vaccines, including those in hard-to-reach areas.”
WHO’s partnership with Pakistan spans seven decades. As part of this long-standing relationship, the organization continues to support the country’s immunization efforts, which protect over seven million children and five million mothers annually with routine vaccinations. The recent delivery of motorbikes underscores a broader commitment to improving healthcare access and eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases throughout Pakistan.
