Frontline Vaccinators Continue Efforts to Eradicate Polio in Afghanistan

Frontline health workers in Kabul, Afghanistan, are continuing efforts to reach and immunize children against wild poliovirus during site-to-site campaigns, according to details released on 21 October 2026. The campaigns focus on identifying and reaching children who have been repeatedly missed, aiming to halt ongoing transmission of the disease.

Afghanistan remains one of only two countries globally where wild poliovirus transmission has never been interrupted. Virus circulation continues particularly in the country's southern region, where persistent challenges in reaching all children have sustained transmission chains.

Rashed Anawri, a local vaccinator who has worked in the programme for 14 years, stated that building long-term community trust is critical to the initiative's success. Anawri noted that familiarity with local families allows vaccinators to address concerns, explain the benefits of the oral polio vaccine, and convince parents who initially refuse immunization for their children.

According to the report, community elders and religious leaders also play a key role in boosting public acceptance of the vaccine. Local resident Mohammad Saber highlighted that community members actively participate by bringing their children to vaccination sites and encouraging others to do the same to prevent paralysis.

Despite progress in raising public awareness, vaccinators face ongoing physical challenges, including adverse weather conditions and long travel distances. Health workers continue to prioritize repeated vaccination campaigns and routine immunization to close community immunity gaps and work toward the total eradication of the virus across the country.

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