Analysis
Polio Free Afghanistan made several social media posts about the nation’s second polio vaccination campaign. The posts received hundreds of responses, including a mix of support for the campaign and distrust of polio vaccines. Several responses called polio drops “poison,” “forbidden,” and the “mother of all diseases.” Others claimed that polio vaccination is a “Western” conspiracy and the “destruction of Afghanistan.”
Recommendations
False claims about the safety of polio drops that circulate during vaccination campaigns can lead to hesitancy. Partnering with trusted community and faith leaders to explain the importance of polio vaccination campaigns may help ease parents’ concerns about their safety. Messaging may emphasize that polio vaccines have been tested and safely used around the world for generations.