Afghanistan launches polio vaccination campaign in five provinces

The Afghan government has launched a polio vaccination campaign targeting children across five provinces to curb the spread of the disease. The initiative covers the entire province of Nangarhar, seven districts in Kunar, six districts in Kabul, two districts in Herat, and two districts in Farah.

The campaign follows reports of a new polio case in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province. According to the World Health Organization, 15 polio cases have been confirmed in Afghanistan since the start of 2026. Health authorities noted that the situation is closely linked to developments in Pakistan, as cross-border movement between the two countries can facilitate the transmission of the virus.

Efforts are focused on reaching children with repeated vaccination doses, particularly in areas where healthcare access and routine immunization remain limited. Vaccination is considered the most effective method to prevent the highly infectious virus, which can cause permanent paralysis in young children.