Karachi: In a troubling setback for Pakistan’s ongoing battle against polio, more than 35,000 parents across Sindh have refused to administer the vaccine to their children during the latest anti-polio campaign. Health authorities have confirmed that of these, over 34,000 refusals came from Karachi alone, highlighting the metropolis as the epicenter of vaccine resistance in the province.
The Scale of Refusals
According to sources in the Ministry of Health, Sindh’s most recent polio eradication drive, which ran from September 1 to September 7, faced stiff resistance from a significant number of families. The campaign was launched across 25 districts of the province, with Karachi assigned the largest target — vaccinating more than 2.1 million children under the age of five.
Despite widespread mobilization of vaccination teams and strong government appeals, resistance in Karachi was far greater than in other parts of Sindh. In the Karachi East district alone, more than 8,000 parents declined the vaccine, while other districts of the city also reported several thousand refusals each.
Officials fear that such a high concentration of unvaccinated children in the country’s largest urban center could severely undermine the broader national and global efforts to eliminate polio.
Why Polio Vaccination Matters
Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world — along with Afghanistan — where wild poliovirus continues to circulate. While significant progress has been made in reducing the number of cases, authorities warn that any gaps in vaccination coverage could allow the virus to resurge.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling viral disease that primarily affects children under the age of five. It can cause lifelong paralysis and, in severe cases, death. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) is the most effective shield against the virus, and repeated doses are required to ensure lifelong immunity.
Health experts caution that even a small percentage of unvaccinated children in high-density areas like Karachi can enable the virus to spread rapidly, not only endangering local communities but also threatening to undo years of progress in global eradication campaigns.
The Challenge of Misinformation
Officials from the Ministry of Health have pointed to misinformation, mistrust, and cultural misconceptions as the main reasons behind the widespread refusals. Rumors often circulate in low-income neighborhoods of Karachi, falsely linking polio vaccines to infertility, foreign agendas, or harmful side effects.
“Despite continuous awareness campaigns, there are still communities that believe these baseless myths,” a senior health official explained. “Social media has also played a role in amplifying misinformation, making it harder for health workers to convince parents.”
Vaccine resistance is not new to Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts. In the past, similar refusals have led to outbreaks in Karachi, Quetta, and tribal areas, forcing health authorities to deploy large-scale emergency vaccination drives.
Efforts of Frontline Workers
The recent campaign mobilized thousands of frontline health workers, many of them women, who went door-to-door to administer the drops. Despite facing resistance, threats, and sometimes hostility from parents, these workers persevered, often working in challenging conditions.
Health workers reported that refusals were concentrated in specific urban clusters, particularly low-income and densely populated settlements. In these areas, workers were often met with skepticism, with some parents refusing to even open their doors.
A health supervisor from Karachi East noted: “In some neighborhoods, families are influenced by local community leaders or rumors spread through WhatsApp groups. Once one family refuses, it often encourages others to follow suit.”
The Government’s Response
The Sindh government and health authorities are taking the refusals seriously. Special awareness campaigns are being designed to counter misinformation and encourage parents to trust scientific evidence. Religious leaders, community elders, and local influencers are being engaged to help change perceptions.
“We cannot allow these refusals to create a dangerous gap in immunity,” a Ministry of Health spokesperson said. “Every child must be vaccinated if we want to protect Pakistan from polio forever.”
The spokesperson also stressed that refusals not only put the children at risk but also endanger entire communities. “The poliovirus spreads silently. One unvaccinated child in a community can become the reason for an outbreak affecting dozens of others,” he added.
Past Progress and Future Risks
Pakistan has made remarkable progress in reducing polio cases in the last decade. From hundreds of cases annually in the early 2010s, the country has brought the numbers down to just a handful in recent years. However, complete eradication has remained elusive due to challenges like vaccine refusals, inaccessibility in conflict zones, and threats faced by polio workers.
International partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have been instrumental in supporting Pakistan’s polio eradication program. But experts warn that continued resistance in key areas like Karachi could push Pakistan further away from its goal of being polio-free.
Looking Ahead
Health authorities in Sindh are now focusing on “conversion strategies” — efforts to revisit households that refused vaccination during the September campaign. Teams will return with religious clerics, community leaders, and health educators to reassure parents about the safety and importance of the polio vaccine.
Meanwhile, the federal government has vowed to strengthen coordination with provincial administrations to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated. Plans are also underway to improve communication campaigns, especially targeting urban centers like Karachi, where misinformation has been most damaging.
As one health official concluded: “The fight against polio is not just about administering drops; it’s about changing mindsets. Until every parent in Karachi and beyond understands that vaccination is a duty to protect their child’s future, Pakistan’s journey to eradication will remain incomplete.”
