As Pakistan launched its second national polio vaccine campaign this year, many online commenters doubted that the campaign was necessary. Some argued that the country pays too much attention to polio at the expense of other issues like hunger and unemployment. One post calls on the government to fight drug trafficking instead of distributing polio drops “at the tip of the gun.”

Pakistan launched a week-long national polio vaccine campaign on April 21, targeting 45 million children. Although most responses to the campaign were positive, some posts denounced vaccines as “poisonous” and a “gift to the enemies of Muslims.” Several posts also objected to the armed security with polio teams, claiming that polio drops are given at gunpoint. 

A popular social media account repeated the myth that an “untested” polio vaccine funded by Bill Gates left over 490,000 children in India paralyzed. Although the post is about the oral polio vaccine, it includes a video about a different conspiracy theory claiming that an HPV vaccine injured thousands of girls in India.

Some social media users responded negatively to an upcoming national polio campaign in Afghanistan. Posts claimed that polio vaccines are “forbidden,” cause other diseases, and are “poison to Muslims.” Several posts stated that polio vaccines are for “infidels.”

An Afghan delegation attended the Global Polio Eradication Initiative conference in Doha, Qatar. The representatives voiced concern about the polio crisis in Afghanistan, especially since the return of refugees who were deported from Pakistan. Some commenters expressed frustration that Taliban officials who once banned polio vaccines as haram (prohibited in Islam) are now declaring them halal (permissible), suggesting they were paid to do so. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s health minister announced the country is set to launch a joint polio vaccine campaign with Afghanistan in the near future. Social media users in both countries opposed the decision. Several posts falsely claim that polio vaccines contain “pig’s material.” Many posts called the vaccines “poison” meant for “destruction,” while others expressed distrust in vaccine campaigns and medicines from Pakistan.

Many countries announced the launch of polio vaccination campaigns over the next few weeks, including Djibouti, Nigeria, Iran, and Indonesia. Some social media users claimed that politicians use polio campaigns to get positive media attention. Other posts spread conspiracy theories about polio and polio vaccines. Many commenters suggested that polio vaccines are not effective and are “crimes against children” that cause bad behavior and autism.

In a recent statement, Pakistan’s federal minister of health said it is criminal for parents to refuse polio drops for their children. The comment received harsh criticism, with some calling the minister a criminal and accusing the government of looting polio funds. Some commenters called polio vaccines poison and questioned why other issues like child hunger aren’t being addressed. Several posts claimed that the polio vaccine is designed to “massacre” Muslims, while others promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jonas Salk, the Jewish inventor of the first polio vaccine.

A local news outlet shamed Punjab community health workers who are boycotting polio vaccination campaigns because the government is outsourcing hospitals. The video states that boycotting polio campaigns is the wrong choice. Many commenters supported the boycott, calling it the “right decision.” Other posts called the government corrupt and accused newscasters of accepting money to promote the polio campaign.