New Polio Vaccination Drive Launched In 18 Afghan Provinces
A new round of polio vaccination began Monday in 18 provinces of Afghanistan, a spokesperson for the Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health said.
Sharafat Zaman Amarkhel said the campaign will run until Thursday, February 5, and aims to vaccinate 7.3 million children under the age of five.
The drive is being carried out in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Zabul, Balkh, Faryab, Kunduz, Herat and Badghis.
The World Health Organization said in a report published in November 2025 that despite a decline in polio cases in Afghanistan, the risk of virus transmission remains high in southern areas bordering Pakistan.
According to official reports, nine positive polio cases were recorded in Afghanistan in 2025.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio cases are still being reported.
