Taliban Halts Polio Vaccination Campaigns Across Afghanistan

The United Nations announced on Monday that the Taliban have halted polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan, marking a significant setback in the global efforts to eradicate the disease. Polio is notably one of the most infectious diseases, and any increase in unvaccinated children poses a serious threat to years of hard-won progress.

Afghanistan remains one of only two countries where polio transmission has never been fully interrupted; the other is Pakistan. The implications of the Taliban’s decision could extend beyond Afghanistan, leading to potential repercussions in neighboring countries and regions.

The suspension was communicated to various U.N. agencies just prior to the commencement of the September immunization drive. However, the Taliban did not provide any explanation for their decision, and officials from the Taliban-controlled government were not available for immediate comment.

A senior official from the World Health Organization indicated their awareness of discussions shifting away from traditional house-to-house vaccinations. Instead, there may be a move toward immunizations being conducted at places such as mosques.

This year, the WHO has confirmed 18 cases of polio in Afghanistan, with all but two occurring in the southern part of the country. This represents an increase from just six cases in the previous year.

“The Global Polio Eradication Initiative recognizes the recent policy discussions regarding the transition from house-to-house vaccination campaigns to site-to-site vaccination efforts in parts of Afghanistan,” stated Dr. Hamid Jafari of the WHO. “Partners are actively discussing and assessing the implications of any modifications to the existing vaccination strategy.”

Vaccination efforts in Pakistan frequently confront violence, as militant groups often target healthcare teams and the police forces that protect them. These groups unjustly label vaccination initiatives as Western agendas aimed at sterilizing children.

As recently as August, the WHO reported ongoing efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan to implement an “intensive and synchronized campaign” to enhance vaccination coverage in regions where the infection is endemic, while also maintaining a prompt response to any new detections.

During a nationwide campaign in June 2024, Afghanistan successfully reinstated a house-to-house vaccination approach for the first time in five years. This strategy significantly expanded access, allowing healthcare workers to reach a majority of children in need of vaccination, according to the WHO.

Nevertheless, in Kandahar province—home to the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada—vaccination was administered using mosque-to-mosque methods rather than the more effective house-to-house approach. Consequently, Kandahar continues to harbor a significant number of unvaccinated children due to this policy shift.

The WHO noted that women’s participation in vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan remains around 20%, which further limits access to children in several areas.

Any setbacks in Afghanistan are particularly concerning for polio eradication in Pakistan, given the frequent movement of people between the two nations. Pakistani health official Anwarul Haq noted that if vaccination campaigns continue to be irregular and uncoordinated, the polio virus will inevitably spread and continue impacting the children of both countries.