Vaccine refusals: Polio cripples two children in Sindh

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s polio crisis has deepened as two new wild poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) cases have been confirmed in Sindh, bringing the total number of cases nationwide to 39 this year, Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) officials said on Saturday.

The newly affected children, a girl from Sanghar and a boy from Mirpurkhas, are the first recorded polio cases in these districts in 2024.

Officials from the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) in Islamabad reported that virus circulation is escalating in Sindh, especially as several environmental samples from Mirpurkhas tested positive for WPV1 earlier this year. Sindh has now confirmed 12 cases, following Balochistan’s 20, with five in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and one each in Punjab and Islamabad.

Misinformation and conspiracy theories continue to fuel vaccine hesitancy across Pakistan, especially in regions like Balochistan and KP. Parents frequently refuse polio vaccines due to baseless myths, such as the false claim that vaccines cause infertility or are part of a foreign conspiracy. These unfounded fears, spread via social media and local communities, have led to widespread vaccine refusals.

The PEI officials urge parents to rely on scientific facts and consult healthcare professionals. “Vaccines are safe and essential to protect children from paralysis. Listening to conspiracy theories is putting children at grave risk,” the official added.