Nationwide polio vaccination campaign kicks off, target is 11 million children

The Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan says that the Ministry in cooperation with the relevant United Nations agencies started a nationwide polio vaccination campaign on Monday.

According to the ministry, the aim of the campaign is to vaccinate more than 11 million children under the age of five against the wild polio virus.

The ministry added that vitamin A capsules are also given to children who are between the ages of 5 and 6.

“Unfortunately, 5 positive cases of polio have been recorded in 2023, which is very worrying for us,” read the ministry’s statement.

“We are committed to eradicating polio in Afghanistan with the cooperation of our partners. The recent positive cases of polio are worrying and we will continue polio vaccination campaigns and basic health services until the complete eradication of this disease,” said Dr. Qalandar Ebaad, Minister of Public Health.

Ebaad further added: “The support of all Afghans, especially the elders of the areas and religious scholars is important in the eradication of polio. They need to participate in the fight against polio.”

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours.

The virus is transmitted by person-to-person. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralyzed, 5–10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.

Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age. However, anyone of any age who is unvaccinated can contract the disease.

There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented.