Refuse polio vaccine, risk losing your SIM and ID, Sindh tells families | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah threatened drastic action against parents refusing polio vaccination, including blocking SIM cards and suspending IDs/passports.
- A dedicated Polio Vaccine Refusal Cell is being established at the CM House to tackle resistance through social, political, and administrative measures.
- Sindh has reported nine new polio cases this year, with environmental samples in Karachi also testing positive, indicating persistent virus circulation.
- The Chief Minister ordered officials to ensure vaccination coverage, even forcibly if necessary, and warned of removals for any performance negligence.
- The upcoming October 13 polio campaign must be executed in a 'war-like' manner, focusing on hard-to-reach nomadic families.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has threatened severe punitive actions, including the blocking of mobile SIM cards and the suspension of national identity cards and passports, against parents who refuse to vaccinate their children against polio. This stern warning came during a meeting where he announced the creation of a dedicated Polio Vaccine Refusal Cell at the CM House to manage resistance using various measures. The urgency stems from recent polio cases surfacing in Sindh, bringing the provincial total to nine this year, amid persistent circulation detected in Karachi's environmental samples. Health officials noted that most new cases were linked directly to parental refusal or children being absent during campaigns. Shah ordered legal action and directed officials, including elected representatives and deputy commissioners, to ensure drops are administered, even forcibly if required. He emphasized that negligence will result in officials being removed from their posts, demanding a 'war-like' approach for the upcoming October 13 campaign to protect the health and future of the province's children.
