KARACHI – The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) revealed on Monday that nearly 38,000 parents in Karachi refused to allow their children to receive the polio vaccine during the month of May, reflecting a troubling rise in vaccine hesitancy.
According to the EOC, 37,711 refusals were recorded in May, up from 37,360 in April, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by health officials in eradicating the disease in Pakistan’s largest city.
District East recorded the highest number of refusals at 9,433, followed by District Central with 7,141, and Kemari with 7,111. Other districts reported similarly high figures:
- Malir: 4,606 refusals
- Korangi: 3,453 refusals
- South: 3,145 refusals
- West: 2,922 refusals
“The refusal rate during anti-polio campaigns continues to pose a significant challenge,” the EOC said in a statement. “Sustained parental cooperation is essential for polio eradication.”
Health officials noted that misinformation and lack of awareness remain the primary reasons behind the refusals. As a result, special focus is being placed on high-risk union councils, where refusal rates are highest and children remain vulnerable to infection.
The latest figures come just weeks after the Pakistan Polio Programme launched its third National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign of the year, aimed at making Pakistan a polio-free country.
Polio is a highly contagious virus that mainly affects children under five, and in severe cases, it can lead to permanent paralysis or death. While there is no cure, vaccination remains the most effective protection against the disease.
Health authorities continue to urge parents to vaccinate their children, emphasizing that eliminating polio is only possible through collective responsibility and public trust in the immunisation programme.
