Religious Leaders Fight Vaccine Propaganda

According to this article, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working with religious leaders, community leaders and tribal elders to dispel negative rumours surrounding the polio vaccine. Working in parts of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP), UNICEF is holding community jigras (councils) to spread the message that the polio vaccine is safe.

According to the article, rumours that the polio vaccine could lead to infertility have resulted in many people in NWFP refusing to have their children vaccinated. In January 2007, 24,000 refusals were reported during the polio immunisation campaign. In an effort to counter the disinformation surrounding polio vaccinations, Pakistan’s Muslim Ulema (scholars) and imams have traveled to villages encouraging people to have their children vaccinated.

The outreach carried out by the imams has been effective in changing people’s attitudes about polio vaccination. In one instance, 75 children were vaccinated in a NWFP village after two imams spoke about the importance of polio vaccination. According to the article, media messages and stories have also been effective in educating communities about the importance of vaccination.