Father Refuses Polio Drops for Son, Gets Vaccinated Himself

A man in Skardu who initially refused to let his five-year-old son receive polio drops ended up taking the vaccine himself, along with his child, after being convinced by the Assistant Commissioner (AC).

According to District Health Officer (DHO) Skardu, the ongoing polio vaccination campaign successfully immunized around 38,000 children across the district with strong community support.

However, during the drive in the Ghanche district, one resident declined to let his son be vaccinated. The AC personally intervened and set an example by taking the drops himself to assure the father of the vaccine’s safety. The gesture worked — the father later allowed his son to be vaccinated and admitted it was a mistake to refuse earlier.

Officials said the act was meant to build public trust and show that the polio vaccine is safe, effective, and vital for children’s health.

The national anti-polio campaign, running from October 13 to 19, involves more than 400,000 health workers conducting door-to-door visits to ensure all children under five receive the drops. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has urged parents to cooperate fully and ensure both polio and routine immunisations for their children are completed on schedule.

Pakistan has reported 29 polio cases so far in 2025, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leading at 18 cases, followed by Sindh (9), and one case each in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The country remains one of only two in the world where polio is still endemic, alongside Afghanistan. Despite near-eradication in 2021, a resurgence in recent years has raised concern among health officials. In 2024, Pakistan recorded 74 cases, including 27 from Balochistan, 23 from Sindh, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Polio is a life-threatening disease that can cause permanent paralysis, but timely vaccination offers strong protection and immunity for children under five.