Over 1,100 refuse polio vaccination in Rawalpindi

As the health authorities attempt to vaccinate children in the district amidst the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and threats of violence, another major obstacle has emerged in the form of over 1,100 cases of parents turning away health workers.

The government has now sought the help of clerics and activists to convince these parents to vaccinate their children.

Sources said that so far, vaccinators have immunised as many as 617,000 children in the district who are less than five-years-of-age during the first three days of the ongoing immunisation drive. However, The Express Tribune has learnt that some 1,102 cases of refusal have been reported in the district as well.

Of these, some 396 cases have been definitively identified by the relevant immunisation officials while identification of some 733 cases has become a challenge for the district administration and health authorities.

There were some 28,875 unattended cases in the district, however, 10,678 have been attended to during the drive.

With polio teams facing difficulties in many areas of the district in vaccinating children due to the refusals, the administration has decided to seek the help of clerics and social activists for counselling of such parents. It will also acquire a decree from clerics which may help change the minds of the parents.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2020.