Polio Free Afghanistan has announced the launch of a new nationwide polio vaccination campaign set to begin on Monday, 21 April.

The organisation is urging all families to ensure that children under the age of five receive the vaccine in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

This will be the first nationwide campaign of the year, following a smaller drive conducted across 16 provinces in late January. While the initiative confirmed the launch, it did not specify the duration of the campaign or the number of children targeted for immunisation.

According to official data, Afghanistan recorded 25 polio cases in 2024. So far, only one case has been reported in the first four months of 2025—an encouraging sign of progress in the fight against the virus.

Nonetheless, health experts have voiced concerns over ongoing challenges facing vaccination efforts. These include the ban on female employment in health outreach, significant changes in vaccine delivery methods, and the Taliban’s prohibition of traditional house-to-house vaccination campaigns.

Reports indicate that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has restricted vaccination efforts to mosques, eliminating the door-to-door approach that was once key to reaching children in remote areas.

A recent NPR report highlighted that, since the Taliban’s return to power, restrictions have increased on polio eradication initiatives, raising fears that these limitations could reverse the country’s hard-earned gains.