Analysis
A social media post about polio vaccines in Lakki Marwat received many responses calling for a boycott of anti-polio campaigns in the region using the hashtag #polioboycott. The boycott is in support of kidnapped factory workers in Lakki Marwat. Some posts state that peace is more important than the polio campaign. Meanwhile, residents in a village near Makli, Thatta, launched a “No water, no vaccines” boycott to protest a lack of clean water access. Several posts falsely claimed that polio vaccines are harmful and that the disease is only spreading in children who have received multiple polio drops.
Recommendations
While most of the posts are not promoting false claims about polio vaccines, any disruption to polio vaccine campaigns puts children at unnecessary risk. It is unfortunate that the health of children would be used as a bargaining tool, whatever the reason for the boycott may be. Emphasizing key talking points is recommended: The polio vaccine is the only way to protect children from polio, and all children should be given the polio vaccine. Messaging may also explain that polio vaccines protect against all forms of polio and that vaccine-derived polio is only a risk to unvaccinated children.