October 2023: Pakistan started its second nationwide anti-polio campaign of the year

Pakistan started its second nationwide anti-polio campaign of the year on October 2, aiming to vaccinate 44 million children under age 5. The five-day campaign sent 350,000 health workers to vaccinate children door to door. While the country has come close to eradicating the disease, Pakistan reportedly saw at least two new cases this year (in the northwestern Taliban-controlled region), per the Associated Press (AP). According to the AP, the Sindh government introduced a bill in September that would imprison parents for up to one month if they fail to get their children immunized against polio or eight other common diseases. AP (1); AP (2); Samaa