The “Afghanistan Polio-Free” organization announced that a new round of polio vaccinations will begin on Monday, December 23, in various provinces of Afghanistan. The organization did not specify which provinces will be targeted or how long the vaccination campaign will last.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio has not been eradicated.
On December 4, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement reporting a 283% increase in polio cases in Afghanistan. According to the WHO, the number of positive environmental samples for wild poliovirus type 1 in Afghanistan in 2024 reached 84, compared to 62 cases in 2023.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Health claimed in November 2024 that no new cases of polio had been reported in Afghanistan for the year.
On Monday, September 18, the Taliban administration suspended the polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan for about one and a half months.
The announcement of the new vaccination campaign is a positive step in the ongoing efforts to combat polio in Afghanistan. However, the sharp rise in cases highlighted by the World Health Organization underscores the challenges faced by the country in its fight against this disease. Continued efforts and broader coverage of vaccination programs are essential to prevent further outbreaks and move closer to the global goal of polio eradication.
The suspension of the vaccination program earlier this year also points to the political and logistical hurdles that can impede public health initiatives in Afghanistan. For the country to make meaningful progress in eliminating polio, it will require coordinated efforts from both the local authorities and international health organizations, alongside stable and secure conditions that allow for the widespread delivery of vaccines.
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