KABUL – Afghanistan on Monday initiated its second nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025, aiming to inoculate 11.8 million children under the age of five across the country. The four-day drive is scheduled to run from May 26 to May 30.
However, the launch of the campaign was marred by violence. On its first day, a polio vaccinator was shot and killed in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, and another individual was wounded, sources in the province told Amu. The incident occurred early this morning in the “Boland Manzel” area of Gardez city.
According to the sources, the vaccinators were targeted after they knocked on a door to vaccinate children. Following the homeowner’s refusal, the vaccinators reportedly reiterated their request for the children to be brought out for vaccination, at which point shots were fired from inside the house.
Taliban have not yet commented on the incident.
The attack comes amid the Taliban’s ban on house-to-house polio vaccination campaigns across Afghanistan, a policy that has forced vaccinators to administer vaccines at designated locations, such as mosques. This shift in strategy has raised concerns among health officials and citizens about the effectiveness of vaccination efforts and the safety of health workers.
