Key result
Polio remains endemic in Pakistan driven by vaccine misconceptions, poor governance, and terrorism.
Why the study?
Pakistan remains one of the two countries where polio is still endemic as of 2022, facing challenges such as vaccine misconceptions, poor governance, terrorism, and remote access.
Addressing myths, improving governance, and ensuring healthcare worker safety are critical for polio eradication in Pakistan.
Persistent endemicity in Pakistan underscores need for governance and security reforms; review leaves open which interventions will prove most effective.
Poliomyelitis is a viral disease that causes acute paralysis, muscle weakness and autonomic dysfunction. It primarily affects children under the age of five. It is mainly transmitted via the feco-oral route, through contaminated water. As of the year 2022, Pakistan remains one of the two countries where polio is still endemic, the other being Afghanistan. Numerous myths and misconceptions regarding the polio vaccine, lack of awareness and proper governance, terrorism and difficult access to remote areas due to poor infrastructure are just some of the reasons why polio remains endemic in Pakistan to this day. Therefore, the government should take measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of health care workers, as well as spread awareness regarding the importance of polio vaccines, while addressing the myths and misconception regarding said vaccines.
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Shabbir et al. (2022) conducted a review in Poliomyelitis. Polio vaccine was evaluated. Poliomyelitis remains endemic in Pakistan due to vaccine misconceptions, poor governance, terrorism, and infrastructure challenges, necessitating targeted government interventions.
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