Employees refusing vaccination to face music

Minister warns of dismissal, salary-hold as govt targets 6.5m children

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Mian Khaliqur Rehman has warned that strict action will be taken against government employees who refuse polio vaccination, including possible dismissal from service and suspension of salaries, stressing that no negligence will be tolerated in the fight to eradicate the disease.

Speaking to the media at the inauguration of a province-wide anti-polio campaign in Peshawar, the minister said the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward vaccine refusal among public servants. He emphasized that polio eradication remains a top public health priority and requires full cooperation from all departments.

According to the minister, the ongoing campaign covers all 35 districts of the province, with a target to administer polio drops to approximately 6.5 million children. He noted that the campaign has shown significant progress in recent months and expressed optimism that reported polio cases will decline further during the current year.

"Compared to previous years, the number of polio cases has already started to decrease, which is an encouraging development," Rehman said, adding that sustained efforts and consistent outreach are essential to completely eliminate the virus.

He paid tribute to polio workers serving on the front lines, calling their role critical and their sacrifices commendable. He said the health department and divisional commissioners are working in close coordination to ensure the campaign is conducted effectively and reaches all target populations.