Search

On July 1, Pakistan confirmed a polio case in North Waziristan, bringing the total to 14 this year. As health officials urged parents to ensure that all children receive polio drops, a trending video and social media post declared that “the polio vaccine is a curse.” The post received dozens of responses claiming that polio vaccines are “not right” and “dangerous.” In the comments, parents boasted about refusing polio vaccines and other vaccines for their children. Other commenters promoted homeopathic (unproven and alternative) medicine over allopathic (conventional and evidence-based) medicine. 

On June 26, a popular Nigerian influencer partnered with Bayelsa state health officials to promote polio vaccination before the launch of the June 27 campaign. Meanwhile, a television and radio presenter participated in a walk to raise awareness about polio vaccines and promoted the vaccination campaign on his show. Many social media users thanked the men for using their fame to raise awareness, but some warned them to “be careful what you push for our children.” Several posts claim that polio vaccines are dangerous and suggest fake “natural” health alternatives to vaccination, while others argue that eradicating hunger is more important than fighting polio.

As Pakistan reports its 13th polio case this year, some online continue to spread myths about polio vaccines. Some social media users called the reports a “lie,” claiming that polio exists in the country so politicians can “earn dollars.” Others suggested that polio vaccines are “poison” that harm children and that health officials are “playing with the lives of small children.”

The DRC launched a five-day polio vaccination campaign on June 26. Responses to the campaign repeated several common conspiracies and myths about polio and polio vaccines. Several posts promoted the false claim that polio is caused by the pesticide DDT, while others called polio vaccines “poison.” 

On June 25, the U.S. health secretary announced that the country would end its funding of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, alleging that the organization had “ignored the science” regarding global immunization. He offered no evidence to support the claim. The news received international attention, with many social media users highlighting the official’s anti-vaccine background and lack of expertise and relevant experience related to vaccines and global health. Critics dismissed the accusation as “entirely false,” noting that, unlike the official’s claims, global immunization efforts are evidence-based and supported by decades of independent research. Some social media users argued that “children will die preventable deaths” as a result of the funding cuts, calling them “utterly evil.” But others defended the decision, alleging that vaccines are “harmful,” “toxic,” and “evil.”

Ethiopia reported four polio cases last week, bringing the country’s total for the year to 33. In response, a social media user accused polio workers of dumping polio vaccines in open fields and falsely reporting a successful vaccination campaign. Meanwhile, a conservative organization that has promoted anti-vaccine myths and the conspiracy theory that HIV does not cause AIDS, shared a news article about polio cases in Ethiopia and Benin. The post emphasized that the cases were vaccine-derived, with no additional context or explanation of how cVDPV spreads.

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.