Afghanistan has launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign to protect 12.8 million
children under the age of five. The campaign aims to prevent the spread of polio and protect
young children from this dangerous disease.

According to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the vaccination campaign is being carried out
with the support of international partners. The nationwide campaign will run from November 2 to
November 5, 2026.

However, the campaign will follow a different schedule in some areas. Vaccination activities in
the southern zone will take place from November 3 to November 6. In Logar province, the
campaign is scheduled for November 9 to November 13.

Along with polio vaccination, health teams will also provide albendazole tablets to children in
several regions. These tablets will be given in the southern, south-eastern, western and eastern
zones.

Albendazole is a medicine used to prevent and treat intestinal worm infections. Providing these
tablets alongside polio vaccines will help protect children’s health and improve their overall
well-being.

Public Health Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali attended the campaign launch and highlighted
the government’s commitment to fighting polio. He said the ministry was working with
international partners to prevent the spread of the disease across Afghanistan.
The minister also asked religious scholars and tribal elders to support the vaccination campaign.
He encouraged parents and influential community members to cooperate with vaccination
teams.

He stressed that public support is important for reaching every eligible child. Cooperation from
families and local communities can help health workers complete the campaign successfully.
The Afghanistan Polio-Free Initiative also confirmed that the nationwide vaccination campaign
had officially started. The initiative is working to support efforts aimed at protecting children from
polio.

Polio is a serious viral disease that mainly affects young children. It can cause permanent
paralysis and has no complete cure. However, vaccination is an effective way to protect children
from the disease.

The nationwide campaign is an important step towards preventing new polio cases in
Afghanistan. Health authorities are encouraging parents to make sure their children receive the
required vaccines.

Through cooperation between government departments and international health partners,
Afghanistan aims to protect millions of children and move closer to a polio-free future.

Source: Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and Afghanistan Polio-Free Initiative

Fatima Khan