The Taliban Ministry of Public Health and the Afghanistan Polio-Free Program have announced the launch of the second round of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign across 20 provinces of Afghanistan.
According to the ministry, more than 8.3 million children are expected to receive polio vaccines during the four-day campaign.
The vaccination drive covers provinces in central, southern, eastern, western, southeastern, northern, and northeastern regions of the country.
The ministry stated that the campaign in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, and Zabul provinces will begin on Tuesday.
The program is being implemented with support from international health organizations and partners.
Taliban health authorities have also called on religious scholars, tribal elders, and families to support vaccination teams and cooperate to ensure successful implementation of the campaign.
Earlier, Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, stated that around 12 million children in Afghanistan had received polio vaccinations in 2025.
Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries in the world where the poliovirus has not yet been fully eradicated.
According to official figures, nine cases of polio were recorded in Afghanistan last year, while Pakistan reported 30 cases.
In 2026, three positive polio cases have already been identified in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand.
Health experts warn that insecurity, limited access, and distrust in some areas continue to challenge efforts to eliminate the disease.
Analysts say Afghanistan’s continued battle against polio reflects not only a public health challenge, but also broader issues involving security, public trust, and access to vulnerable communities.
