Afghanistan on Monday launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign aimed at immunizing approximately 12.8 million children under the age of five, as health authorities continue efforts to protect the country’s youngest population from the potentially crippling disease.

The campaign will run from November 2 to 5, 2026, across most parts of the country. Vaccination activities in the southern zone will take place from November 3 to 6, while the campaign in Logar province is scheduled for November 9 to 13.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, the campaign is part of ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of poliovirus and protect children from lifelong disability caused by the disease.

In addition to polio vaccine drops, health teams will distribute albendazole tablets in the southern, southeastern, western and eastern zones to protect children against intestinal worm infections.

Public Health Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali called on religious scholars, tribal elders, parents and influential community figures to support vaccination teams and encourage families to ensure their children receive the vaccine.

He stressed the importance of public cooperation in reaching all eligible children and ensuring the campaign achieves its objectives.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five and can cause irreversible paralysis. Afghanistan remains among the few countries where the disease has not been eradicated, making repeated vaccination campaigns essential to preventing transmission and protecting children. (ILKHA)