10 Million Polio Vaccines Heading to Afghanistan

Recently, the Republic of Indonesia generously donated 10 million polio vaccine doses to Afghanistan. This initiative is a significant step towards eradicating the disease and ensuring the health and well-being of the Afghan people.

Afghanistan is affected by ongoing endemic wild poliovirus transmission. In 2023, there were six cases confirmed.

According to the government's news agency, on March 8, 2024, Bio Farma, an Indonesian pharmaceutical company, manufactured these oral polio vaccines.

UNICEF is collaborating with Afghan officials to facilitate the transportation and distribution of the vaccines.

Bio Farma produces the nOPV2 vaccine, which has been administered in more than 35 countries.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported on March 8, 2024, that at the Bost hospital, like every maternity facility in Afghanistan, babies are vaccinated in their first few hours of life.

In any 24 hours, the UNICEF-backed female vaccinators vaccinate dozens of babies in this hospital alone.

Some women are medically trained to administer intravenous vaccinations, and others are known as female mobilizer vaccinators (FMVs). They are not just vaccinators, but FMV are also the first-line advocates for polio eradication.

They are a familiar face to the local community who provides sound advice and information for good health of their children and family members.