Polio Pulse

Polio Pulse provides social listening insights to support GPEI’s polio interventions on disinformation, crisis communication, and strategic communication. Data is monitored from polio-endemic and outbreak countries and geographies classified by GPEI, covering 12 major languages spoken in these regions. The platform is managed by the UNICEF Digital Community Engagement (DCE) team.

Medium Risk

Posts claim polio vaccines are haram and harmful to children

Geography
Afghanistan
Themes
Ingredients
Religion
Safety and side effects

Analysis

A national Afghan news outlet posted on social media about a polio vaccination campaign planning meeting in Kabul. Responses to the posts were mixed, with some asking about polio vaccine ingredients and alleged “harm done to children” because of polio vaccination. Due to the Taliban’s previous ban, many posts question whether polio vaccines are halal (permissible) or haram (prohibited) for Muslims.

Recommendations

The posts show that there is still some confusion about the permissibility of polio vaccines in Islam. Partnering with trusted faith leaders to explain that Islamic scholars around the world support polio vaccines is recommended. Communicators may explain that there are no harmful ingredients in polio vaccines and that the vaccines are tested and research shows they’re incredibly safe. Children are at great risk of death and disability from polio, not from vaccination. Messaging may emphasize that the polio vaccine is the only way to protect children from polio.