Polio vaccination controversy in Pakistan

Ali, Mohammad; Ahmad, Nisar; Khan, Haji Muhammad Shoaib; Ali, Shahid; Akbar, Fazal; Hussain, Zahid

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32101-4

Cited by 60 publications

(59 citation statements)

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“…36 Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio has still not been eradicated. [37][38][39][40][41][42]…”

Section: Misinformation and Hoaxesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In developing countries, such as Pakistan, polio eradication has been consistently undermined not only by religious extremism spreading rumors claiming that the vaccination is part of a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim persons, but also by the public's loss of trust in the vaccination campaigns. 36,38,39 This loss of trust was fueled by a 2011 CIA plot that used a vaccination campaign to track down Osama bin Laden. As a result, health workers and vaccinator team members have been killed in numerous attacks from 2016 to 2019.…”

Section: Loss Of Trust and Risk Communication Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vaccine confidence: the keys to restoring trust

Badur¹,

Ota

Öztürk³

et al. 2020

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

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During the 20 th century, the discovery of modern vaccines and ensuing mass vaccination dramatically decreased the incidence of many infectious diseases and in some cases eliminated them. Despite this, we are now witnessing a decrease in vaccine confidence that threatens to reverse the progress made. Considering the different extents of low vaccine confidence in different countries of the world, both developed and developing, we aim to contribute to the discussion of the reasons for this, and to propose some viable scientific solutions to build or help restore vaccine confidence worldwide.

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“…36 Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio has still not been eradicated. [37][38][39][40][41][42]…”

Section: Misinformation and Hoaxesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Loss Of Trust and Risk Communication Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccine confidence: the keys to restoring trust

Badur¹,

Ota

Öztürk³

et al. 2020

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

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“…Therefore, periodic education programs should be considered by health authorities. Raising awareness becomes more and more important, as in recent decades, vaccine hesitancy has led to an overall decrease in vaccination coverage rates [114,115], underlying localized increases of otherwise controlled childhood diseases such as measles or poliomyelitis, which is on the brink of eradication [116,117].…”

Section: Expert Opinionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in the era of conjugate vaccines: critical factors for successful eradication

Slack

Esposito

Haas

et al. 2020

Expert Review of Vaccines

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Introduction: Prior to implementation of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)-conjugate vaccination programs in the 1990s, Hib was the commonest cause of bacterial meningitis in children aged <5 years. While the burden of all Hib disease has significantly decreased in the post-vaccination era, Hib still accounted for >29,000 deaths worldwide in children aged <5 years in 2015. Areas covered: We reviewed literature data on the most widely used Hib vaccines and vaccination strategies which led to the global prevention and control of Hib disease and aim to highlight important factors for continued disease control and elimination in the future. Expert commentary: More than 90% of countries worldwide have implemented Hib-conjugate vaccination in their national immunization programs. Vaccines containing Hib polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) conjugated with tetanus toxoid (Hib-TT) are the most commonly used. Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein complex of PRP (Hib-OMP) is also used. Although the kinetics of the immune response varies with Hib vaccine and schedule used, high control of Hib disease was observed in all settings/scenarios. Further improving global Hib vaccination coverage may result in disease elimination.

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“…Of these, alleged poor quality of vaccines, questioning of dosing recommendations, religious prohibitions ("infidel vaccine"), and rumors related to the presence of active virus in the vaccines are some leading claims obstructing the anti-polio campaign in the country. 1 Unfortunately, a conspiracy theory against COVID-19 vaccine is currently being spread in Pakistan. Recently, a renowned political commentator and columnist in Pakistan claimed that the virus was a grand illusion to target Islamic nations, designed to allow Jews to rule the world, and to include nano-chips imbedded in the bodies of people to gain control through 5G towers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Threat of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Pakistan: The Need for Measures to Neutralize Misleading Narratives

Khan

Mallhi

Alotaibi

et al. 2020

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

258

242

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Immediately after declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, numerous wild conspiracy theories sprouted through social media. Pakistan is quite vulnerable to such conspiracy narratives and has experienced failures of polio vaccination programs because of such claims. Recently, two well-known political figures raised conspiracy theories against COVID-19 vaccines in Pakistan, stating that COVID-19 is a grand illusion and a conspiracy against Muslim countries. This theory is much discussed in the local community, supporting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. We urge healthcare authorities in Pakistan to take necessary measures against such claims before they penetrate to the general community. Anti-vaccine movements could undermine efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that ethical and responsible behavior of mass media, a careful advisory from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, stern measures from healthcare authorities, effective maneuvers to increase public awareness on COVID-19, vigorous analysis of information by data or communications scientists, and publication of counter opinions from health professionals against such theories will go a long way in neutralizing such misleading claims. Because Pakistan is experiencing a large burden of disease, with a sharp rise in confirmed cases, immediate action is of paramount importance to eradicate any potential barriers to a future COVID-19 vaccination program.

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Polio vaccination controversy in Pakistan

Cited by 60 publications

References 0 publications

Vaccine confidence: the keys to restoring trust

Vaccine confidence: the keys to restoring trust

Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in the era of conjugate vaccines: critical factors for successful eradication

Threat of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Pakistan: The Need for Measures to Neutralize Misleading Narratives

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