Analysis
Pakistan reported a polio case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing its total to 12 this year. The country conducted three polio vaccination campaigns in 2025, prompting some online to question the effectiveness and importance of these efforts. One post argued that polio has “overshadowed” the millions of children in Pakistan who live in poverty and lack access to clean water. Others claim that polio is “nonsense” used by community health workers to make money.
Recommendations
Claims that polio eradication is not important may damage polio vaccination campaigns and put children at risk, especially in countries like Pakistan with active polio spread. Health communicators may emphasize the dangers of polio, the benefits of vaccination to children and their families, and the goals of national and global polio vaccination campaigns. Messaging may explain that polio eradication work often includes efforts to improve water sanitation, because polio spreads in unclean water. Continuing to highlight key talking points is recommended: Polio vaccines are responsible for eliminating polio in most countries and are the only way to protect children from polio.