Man Gets 5-Day Jail for Refusing Polio Drops

News Desk

Islamabad: A deputy commissioner’s court in Ghotki has sentenced a man to five days in jail and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 for refusing to administer polio drops to his children, a private news channel reported on Saturday.

The individual, identified as Baroch Bhutto, declined to vaccinate his children against polio a few days ago. Upon receiving the report, authorities registered a case under the Immunization and Epidemic Control Act 2023, leading to his arrest.

Following the hearing, the court ruled in favor of imprisonment and financial penalty, reinforcing the legal mandate for polio immunization.

Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis and even death, with no available cure. Vaccination remains the most effective means of protection, requiring multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and adherence to routine immunization schedules for children under five to ensure high immunity.

Meanwhile, health authorities announced the successful completion of the first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025. The drive, conducted from February 3 to 9, achieved 99 percent of its target, administering polio vaccines to over 45 million children across the country.