Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health has launched the country’s first polio vaccination campaign of 2026, saying around 7.3 million children under the age of five are expected to receive oral drops during the round.

In an official statement, the ministry said the campaign is being implemented from 2 to 5 February 2026 in 18 provinces, including Kabul, Herat and Kunduz. It added that in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan and Zabul, the drive will run from 3 to 6 February.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail, said a follow-up round is planned in parts of the north-west to support implementation. “In order for the campaign to be implemented properly, it will be carried out in two districts of Faryab and two districts of Badghis next week, from the 9th to the 12th,” he said.

In Kabul, vaccination teams told AnewZ that freezing temperatures have reduced public cooperation during this round, despite teams being stationed at designated locations.

One resident, Rashid Ahmad, said he was “happy that the Afghan government is taking the polio vaccination campaign seriously.”  He added: “All parents should cooperate with the vaccinators so these vaccines can reach every child.”

Afghanistan, alongside Pakistan, remains among the countries where children are still affected by polio, with health officials warning that sustained campaigns and community cooperation are key to ending transmission.

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