A public health campaign led by the Polio-Free Afghanistan initiative has called on families returning from Pakistan to vaccinate their children at border crossings, citing an urgent need to prevent new outbreaks of the virus.
In a statement posted Monday on the group’s official X account, the campaign urged parents to ensure their children receive polio vaccinations upon entry into Afghanistan.
“If we want our children to be safe from the dangerous poliovirus and avoid spreading it to others, they must be vaccinated upon returning from Pakistan,” the message read.
The warning comes amid a resurgence of polio in Pakistan, where several cases have been reported this year, raising fears of cross-border transmission into Afghanistan — one of the only two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic.
According to the World Health Organization, Afghanistan has reported two confirmed cases of wild poliovirus in 2025, one in Badghis province and another in Helmand. Health experts say displaced populations and unvaccinated children remain among the most at-risk groups.
The campaign, supported by international health agencies including WHO and UNICEF, is part of broader efforts to maintain immunity levels at border points and within vulnerable communities. Cross-border vaccination teams continue to work at major entry points to ensure children under five receive immunization.
Polio-Free Afghanistan has urged parents, community elders, and healthcare providers to support the vaccination effort. “Without consistent and timely immunization,” the group warned, “the virus could resurge, reversing years of hard-won progress.”
