Parents of 38,000 children refuse polio vaccination in Karachi

Karachi (HRNW) Parents of over 38,000 children refused to administer polio drops to their kids during the immunization campaign in Karachi, it emerged during a meeting headed by Sindh Minister for Health Dr Azra Fazl Pechuhu on Wednesday.

Chairing a meeting to review the immunization campaign run in the city from July 20, it was briefed that vaccination drive targeted over 250,000 children in 23 union councils of the metropolis.

Initially, 38,000 refusals were reported during the polio campaign but later 20,000 children were vaccinated after their parents were persuaded, the meeting was briefed as 18,700 children are yet to be administered polio drops during the drive.

Speaking during the meeting, Azra Fazl Pechuhu said that rainfall in the city created hurdles for them in achieving immunization targets. “It further remained a challenge during the drive to persuade parents to administer polio drops to their children,” she said while vowing to continue efforts unless no child is left behind from the vaccination process.