Over 11 Million Afghan Children Received Polio Vaccine In 2024, Says UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that 11.6 million Afghan children under five received polio vaccines in 2024.

UNICEF continues its efforts to eliminate polio in Afghanistan.

Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, announced the figures on Tuesday. He said that the organisation, together with its partners, aims to vaccinate every Afghan child against polio.

Polio remains a major health concern in Afghanistan. Many children contract the disease due to limited healthcare services. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 25 polio cases were reported in Afghanistan last year.

Recently, the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health reported the first polio case of 2025. It was identified in a five-year-old child from Qarto village in Balamorghab district of Badghis province.