Refusing to Vaccinate Your Children in Sindh Could Soon Lead to Blocked SIMs and CNICs

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has announced that the provincial government is considering tough punitive measures against parents who refuse to vaccinate their children against poliovirus.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the province’s polio eradication efforts at the CM House, Shah said he may move to block mobile SIM cards, suspend national identity cards (CNICs), and passports of parents who persistently deny polio vaccination for their children.

“I have no other option but to take firm action against those neglecting their national responsibility,” Shah said. “Refusal to vaccinate endangers not only their own children but also the health of others.”

The chief minister directed Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to prepare a comprehensive proposal outlining the procedure for blocking SIMs, CNICs, and passports of such individuals.

To monitor and address vaccine refusal cases, the CM also announced the formation of a Polio Vaccine Refusal Cell at the CM House. The cell will maintain union council–wise data of parents refusing immunisation and engage them through social, political, and administrative channels to ensure compliance.

Expressing concern over the continued detection of new polio cases, Shah instructed the Health Department and district administrations to intensify vaccination drives and improve field performance.

“Officials showing poor performance will not remain part of my team,” he warned, noting that several officers had already been removed over negligence.

Highlighting that most new cases were reported from border areas, Shah directed that the upcoming vaccination campaign must include nomadic families across Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions.

Sindh has so far reported nine polio cases this year, including two confirmed last month. Nationwide, 29 cases have been recorded — 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nine in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.