Pakistan

Though attacks on vaccinators remain a major concern, the fewer number of vaccinators killed—in particular those affiliated with anti-polio campaigns helped advance the Pakistan national polio program toward a “polio-free Pakistan.” In the past year, Pakistan increased national vaccination rates from 85% in August 2016 to 92% in May 2017.[8] Simultaneously, incident cases for wild poliovirus decreased from 20 cases in 2016 to 3 in 2017.[9] In an effort to curb future attacks, the Pakistan National Polio Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), in its National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication 2017-2018, has launched a targeted social mobilization campaign to promote vaccination activities and reestablish trust and acceptance for all health workers.[10]

Apart from attacks on vaccinators, in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, armed gunmen opened fire at a doctor as she was traveling from her clinic to her home.[11] The doctor was injured and her driver was instantly killed.[12] ISIS tried to blackmail a female health worker in Rawalpindi, Punjab province by threatening the life of her 8-year-old son if she didn’t pay Rs. 5 lakh (approximately US $7,530).[13] It is unclear if the health worker was affiliated with a local vaccination campaign. The motives for both attacks remain unclear.