{"id":2342031,"date":"2024-09-16T18:16:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T22:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/polio-vaccination-campaigns-in-afghanistan-suspended\/"},"modified":"2024-09-16T18:26:39","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T22:26:39","slug":"polio-vaccination-campaigns-in-afghanistan-suspended","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/polio-vaccination-campaigns-in-afghanistan-suspended\/","title":{"rendered":"Polio Vaccination Campaigns in Afghanistan Suspended"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpolio-vaccination-campaigns-in-afghanistan-suspended%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2342031&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Taliban has halted polio <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cruz-introduces-bill-to-block-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-for-kids\/\" title=\"Cruz Introduces Bill To Block COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates For Kids\">vaccination campaigns<\/a> in Afghanistan, resulting in a significant setback for global <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-81-hospitalized-after-fall-spokesperson\/\" title=\"Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 81, Hospitalized After Fall: Spokesperson\">polio eradication<\/a> efforts, as stated by the United Nations. Afghanistan remains\u200d one of the only two countries, alongside Pakistan, where polio has not been eliminated. The decision to suspend the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sec-of-state-antony-blinken-u-s-will-pay-over-200m-to-who\/\" title=\"Sec. Of State Antony Blinken: U.S. Will Pay \u2018Over 0M\u2019 to WHO\">immunization efforts<\/a> came before a\u2064 scheduled vaccination campaign in September, with no explanation provided by the Taliban government.<\/p>\n<p>Despite confirmed polio cases rising in Afghanistan this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that \u2064discussions are ongoing about shifting\u2063 from house-to-house vaccinations to site-specific locations like \u2063mosques. Previous campaigns \u200chad utilized house-to-house methods that \u2064proved effective, especially during a nationwide campaign earlier in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>In regions like Kandahar, where the \u200cTaliban has opted for less effective site-to-site vaccinations, many children remain \u200csusceptible to the virus. The \u200cinclusion of women in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fla-gov-desantis-announces-plan-to-work-with-publix-pharmacy-to-distribute-covid-19-vaccine\/\" title=\"Fla. Gov. DeSantis announces plan to work with Publix Pharmacy to distribute COVID-19 vaccine\">vaccination efforts<\/a> has also been limited, contributing to inadequate immunization of children. The WHO \u2062has warned that setbacks \u200cin Afghanistan could jeopardize Pakistan&#8217;s vaccination efforts due to population movement between \u2064the two countries.<\/p>\n<p>Health officials\u2062 stress the necessity of synchronized vaccination campaigns across both nations to eradicate \u2064polio, emphasizing the importance of cooperation to prevent further \u2064spread of the disease.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Taliban have suspended polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan, the U.N. said Monday. It is a devastating setback for polio eradication, since the virus is one of the world&rsquo;s most infectious and any unvaccinated groups of children where the virus is spreading could undo years of progress.<\/p>\n<p>Afghanistan is one of two countries in which the spread of the potentially fatal, paralyzing disease has never been stopped. The other is Pakistan. It is likely that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-taliban-thumb-nose-un-concerns-crackdown-women\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Taliban<\/a>&rsquo;s decision will have major repercussions for other countries in the region and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>News of the suspension was relayed to U.N. agencies right before the September immunization campaign was due to start. No reason was given for the suspension, and no one from the Taliban-controlled government was immediately available for comment.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fed-found-economy-is-recovering-much-faster-than-officials-expected\/\" title=\"Fed Found Economy Is Recovering Much Faster Than Officials Expected\">top official<\/a> from the World Health Organization said it was aware of discussions to move away from house-to-house vaccinations and instead have immunizations in places like mosques.<\/p>\n<p>The WHO has confirmed 18 polio cases in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/gold-star-parents-unleash-barrage-biden-kamala-anniversary-afghanistan-deaths\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Afghanistan<\/a> this year, all but two in the south of the country. That is up from six cases in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is aware of the recent policy discussions on shifting from house-to-house polio vaccination campaigns to site-to-site vaccination in parts of Afghanistan,&rdquo; said Dr. Hamid Jafari from the WHO. &ldquo;Partners are in the process of discussing and understanding the scope and impact of any change in current policy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Polio campaigns in neighboring Pakistan are regularly marred by violence. Militants target vaccination teams and police assigned to protect them, claiming that the campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.<\/p>\n<p>As recently as August, the WHO reported that Afghanistan and Pakistan were continuing to implement an &ldquo;intensive and synchronized campaign&rdquo; focusing on improved vaccination coverage in endemic zones and an effective and timely response to detections elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>During a June 2024 nationwide campaign, Afghanistan used a house-to-house vaccination strategy for the first time in five years, a tactic that helped to reach the majority of children targeted, the WHO said.<\/p>\n<p>But southern Kandahar province, the base of Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, used site-to-site or mosque-to-mosque vaccination <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fox-news-sends-debate-challenge-trump-harris-campaigns-given-race-changed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">campaigns<\/a>, which are less effective than going to people&rsquo;s homes.<\/p>\n<p>Kandahar continues to have a large pool of susceptible children because it is not carrying out house-to-house vaccinations, the WHO said. &ldquo;The overall women&rsquo;s inclusion in vaccination campaigns remains around 20 percent in Afghanistan, leading to inadequate access to all children in some areas,&rdquo; it said.<\/p>\n<p>Any setback in Afghanistan poses a risk to the program in Pakistan due to high population movement, the WHO warned last month.<\/p>\n<p>Pakistani health official Anwarul Haq said the polio virus would eventually spread and continue affecting children in both countries if vaccination campaigns are not run regularly and in a synchronized manner.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Afghanistan is the only neighbor from where Afghan people in large numbers come to Pakistan and then go back,&rdquo; said Haq, the coordinator at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/national-emergency-declared-birth-rate-drops-new-low\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Emergency<\/a> Operation Center for Polio Eradication. &ldquo;People from other neighboring countries, like India and Iran, don&rsquo;t come to Pakistan in large numbers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>There needs to be a united effort to eliminate the disease, he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Taliban has halted polio vaccination efforts in Afghanistan, according to a statement from the U.N. on Monday. This decision represents a significant blow to global polio eradication efforts, as the virus is highly contagious and any unvaccinated children in areas where it is spreading could reverse years of progress. Afghanistan remains one of only two countries where the transmission of this potentially deadly and paralyzing disease has not been eliminated, with Pakistan being the other. The Taliban&#8217;s choice is expected to have serious implications for neighboring countries and beyond. The announcement came just before the September immunization campaign was set to begin, but no explanation for the suspension was provided, and representatives from the Taliban government were unavailable for comment.<\/p>\n<p>A senior official from the World Health Organization (WHO) mentioned that there are discussions about shifting away from house-to-house vaccinations towards administering vaccines at locations such as mosques. So far this year, 18 polio cases have been confirmed in Afghanistan by WHO, with most occurring in southern regions\u2014an increase from six cases reported in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Hamid Jafari of WHO stated that they are aware of recent policy discussions regarding changes to vaccination strategies in parts of Afghanistan and that partners are evaluating how these changes might affect current practices. Vaccination campaigns in Pakistan often face violence as militants target health teams under claims that these initiatives are part of a Western plot against children.<\/p>\n<p>In August, WHO noted ongoing &#8220;intensive and synchronized campaigns&#8221; aimed at improving vaccination rates within endemic areas across both Afghanistan and Pakistan. During a nationwide campaign last June, Afghanistan implemented house-to-house vaccinations for the first time in five years\u2014a method that successfully reached many targeted children; however, Kandahar province relied on less effective site-to-site or mosque-based campaigns instead.<\/p>\n<p>The lack of house-to-house vaccinations has left many children vulnerable in Kandahar according to WHO reports. Additionally, women&#8217;s participation in vaccination efforts remains low at around 20%, limiting access to all children across various regions.<\/p>\n<p>Any setbacks experienced by Afghanistan could jeopardize polio eradication efforts within Pakistan due to high population movement between these nations; Pakistani health official Anwarul Haq emphasized this concern last month. He pointed out that Afghan migrants frequently travel back and forth between their country and Pakistan unlike those coming from India or Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Haq stressed the necessity for coordinated action against polio across both nations if they hope to eliminate it effectively<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2342032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/aaef864aa6094505ad494c3f56f6e956-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7228,8954,24651,32068,5670],"class_list":["post-2342031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-afghanistan","tag-campaigns","tag-polio","tag-public-health","tag-vaccination"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/aaef864aa6094505ad494c3f56f6e956-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2342031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2342032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2342031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2342031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2342031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}