Polio refusal lands two parents in trouble

Officials warned refusals could put other children at risk of poliovirus transmission

RAWALPINDI:

Two incidents of parents refusing to administer polio drops to their children have been reported in Rawalpindi, prompting police to register separate cases against them.

According to police, District Health Authority Health Inspector Rana Faraz stated that an anti-polio team visited Union Council No 7, Dhoke Babu Irfan, where it attempted to administer polio drops to a child named Rahim. However, his father, Samad, refused to allow the vaccination and allegedly challenged the team to take whatever action it wanted. He also warned that no vaccination team should visit his house again, threatening consequences if it did.

The health inspector said that despite an extensive awareness campaign, the father had refused to get his child vaccinated, thereby violating government directives.

In the second incident, the health inspector reported that an anti-polio team visited Union Council No 15 and found a two-and-a-half-year-old child, identified as Mikaash, at home with his father. When the team attempted to administer polio drops, the father refused. Upon the team's subsequent visit, the child's mother also came out and declined to have the child vaccinated.

The health inspector expressed concern that the refusal could put the unvaccinated children and other children in the neighbourhood at risk of contracting and spreading the poliovirus. Police have registered separate cases and launched investigations.