Analysis
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.
Recommendations
Some people oppose polio vaccines on moral or religious grounds. Consider countering these claims by partnering with trusted faith leaders to explain that Islamic scholars worldwide, including in Pakistan and Afghanistan, support polio vaccines. Messaging may emphasize that the vaccines are the only way to protect children from polio.