The second sub-national polio vaccination campaign of the year begins
Kabul, 18 May 2026: The Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in coordination with international partners, today launched the second subnational campaign for polio eradication of 2026. The campaign aims to vaccinate around 8.3 million children across 194 districts in 20 provinces of the Central, South, East, Southeast, North, Northeast, and West regions of the country and will be conducted from 18 to 21 May 2026. In Kandahar, Helmand, Urozgan, and Zabul provinces, the campaign will take place from 19 to 22 May 2026.
“The Ministry of Public Health, together with its partners, is committed to stopping wild poliovirus in Afghanistan,” said Alhaj. Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, the Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. “We will make every effort and continue polio vaccination campaigns and complementary health services until we eradicate polio from Afghanistan.”
“It is important that all community influencers including religious scholars, community elders and parents support polio vaccination teams everywhere in the county. We kindly ask everyone to play their part in the fight against polio, and safeguard the lives and wellbeing of the children of Afghanistan,” the Minister added.
Polio is a viral disease that has no cure. It can only be prevented by the polio vaccine. Poliovirus can cause permanent paralysis or even death in affected children. Currently there is virus transmission in the country. The Ministry of Public Health is fully prepared to respond to any incident.
In the struggle against polio, the support of all members of the community is crucial. Parents and families can protect their children from permanent paralysis by vaccinating them against polio during the campaign. Leaders can motivate people in their communities to vaccinate their children and support the polio vaccination teams as they carry out the campaign.
Vaccination teams will be in identified locations in your area throughout the campaign. Parents and caregivers are requested to familiarize themselves with the locations, and bring all children under 5 years old for vaccination.
For more information:
Alhaj Dr. Abdul Qudus Baryalai,
Director of National Emergency Operations Center
Phone: +93704925448
E-mail: qudus.baryalai@poliofree.af
Call Center’s Toll-Free #: 141
