18 May 2026 - 13:23
The Kabul Tribune (KT)— A new polio vaccination campaign began Monday across several provinces in Afghanistan, health officials said.
The organization “Afghanistan Polio-Free” said about 8.3 million children under age 5 are expected to receive polio vaccines during the four-day campaign in 194 districts across 20 provinces.
The campaign is Afghanistan’s second nationwide polio vaccination drive since the start of 2026 and aims to prevent the spread of the virus and protect children from paralysis caused by the disease.
According to the World Health Organization, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries in the world where polio has not been fully eradicated.
Afghanistan recorded nine confirmed polio cases in 2025. In the first four months of this year, three additional cases were reported in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand, officials said.
