Afghan Families Urged to Vaccinate Children at Borders Amid Polio Risk

Afghan Families Urged to Vaccinate Children at Borders Amid Polio Risk
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The Polio-Free Afghanistan initiative has called on families returning from Pakistan to vaccinate their children at border crossings to prevent new polio outbreaks. In a statement Monday on its official X account, the campaign stressed the need for immunization to stop the spread of the virus, especially as Pakistan has reported multiple polio cases this year.

Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic. The World Health Organization confirmed two polio cases in Afghanistan so far in 2025 — one in Badghis and another in Helmand province. Health experts warn that displaced families and unvaccinated children face the highest risk.

Supported by WHO and UNICEF, vaccination teams are stationed at major entry points to reach children under five. The campaign urged parents, elders, and health workers to back immunization efforts, warning that neglecting vaccination could undo years of progress toward eradication.