The Taliban has suspended polio vaccination campaigns across Afghanistan, according to the UN, marking a major setback in the global fight against polio. Afghanistan, one of only two countries where the virus remains endemic, faces the risk of reversing years of progress in eradication efforts.
The suspension announced just before the September immunization drive, does not explain and comes as polio cases rise in the country, with 18 confirmed so far this year, up from six in 2023.
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concerns over the shift away from house-to-house vaccinations, a method critical for reaching vulnerable children. Instead, there is a move towards site-to-site immunization, including in mosques, particularly in Taliban-controlled regions like Kandahar. This method is considered less effective, with southern Afghanistan remaining a hotspot for polio due to limited access.
A top official from the World Health Organization said it was aware of discussions to move away from house-to-house vaccinations and instead have immunizations in places like mosques.
“The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is aware of the recent policy discussions on shifting from house-to-house polio vaccination campaigns to site-to-site vaccination in parts of Afghanistan,” said Dr Hamid Jafari from the WHO. “Partners are in the process of discussing and understanding the scope and impact of any change in current policy.”
The setback has broad implications, not only for Afghanistan but also for neighbouring Pakistan, where the disease is also endemic. Population movements between the two countries could lead to further outbreaks, worsening the regional health crisis.
Efforts to eradicate polio, which have been hampered by violence in Pakistan and now face this additional challenge in Afghanistan, are further complicated by technical issues with the global vaccination strategy, raising the risk of the disease spreading beyond the region.
(With agency inputs)
