#polioeradication

In Pakistan's Sindh province, a new law has been enacted, mandating consequences for parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated, including against polio. Under this legislation, parents who decline vaccination could potentially face imprisonment for up to one month, in addition to fines amounting to 50,000 Pakistani rupees (Rs 13,487).The primary objective of this law is to combat the endemic issue of polio in Pakistan, although it also encompasses vaccines for other infectious diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), measles, mumps, and rubella.This law, which was signed last week, is scheduled to be enforced starting this month. Shazia Marri, a former federal minister specializing in poverty alleviation and social safety from Sindh, emphasized that this law will serve as a deterrent to address vaccination refusal and is part of a broader effort to completely eradicate the polio virus from Pakistan.Pakistan has faced persistent challenges in eliminating polio, and it remains one of the last two countries, along with Afghanistan, where the disease is still considered endemic.It's worth noting that Pakistan has grappled with deeply ingrained anti-vaccination sentiments, fueled by myths suggesting that polio vaccination campaigns are linked to espionage or a conspiracy to sterilize the population.