Polio-Free Afghanistan Calls for Mandatory Vaccination of All Returnees from Pakistan and Iran

Afghanistan’s polio eradication body urged mandatory vaccination for all returnees from Pakistan and Iran to prevent cross-border transmission of the virus.

Polio-Free Afghanistan Initiative has renewed calls for mandatory vaccination of all returnees from Pakistan and Iran at border crossings, citing heightened risks of cross-border transmission.

In a statement issued on Sunday, December 28, the organisation said vaccinating travellers at entry points is essential to prevent the importation of the poliovirus from neighbouring countries.

The group stressed that returnees of all ages must receive the vaccine, warning that adults can carry and spread the virus even without showing symptoms.

Afghanistan remains one of the few countries worldwide where polio has not been fully eradicated, making population movement across borders a critical public health challenge.

Health concerns have intensified as polio cases have risen in Pakistan this year, increasing the risk of the virus spreading into Afghanistan through returning migrants.

The organisation noted that similar appeals had been made previously, but urged stricter enforcement as large numbers of people continue to return from neighbouring states.

Health officials said sustained vaccination coverage, particularly at border points, is vital to protecting children and vulnerable communities.

The renewed warning follows the confirmation of two polio cases this year in Afghanistan’s Badghis and Helmand provinces, highlighting the country’s ongoing vulnerability.

Aid agencies and health experts say robust border screening, combined with nationwide immunisation campaigns, is crucial to eliminating polio and preventing future outbreaks.

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