Analysis
In mid-August, parents and commentators in Pakistan and Afghanistan began posting that 'the OPV itself creates polio outbreaks.' Threads on X quickly gained traction with frightening anecdotes, while YouTube videos such as 'Children paralyzed by the vaccine itself' were reposted in large Facebook groups. Triggered by media coverage of cVDPV cases, the technical explanation — that mutation only occurs where vaccination coverage is low — was omitted, leaving space for alarmist interpretations. Within 48 hours, over 140 posts repeated the same claim, driving the narrative to an estimated reach of more than 60 million. The combination of parental voices, emotionally charged videos, and the echo of Facebook groups turned a nuanced epidemiological reality into a viral claim of vaccine failure.
Recommendations
Prioritize parents as authors: produce short, plain-language Q&A videos and carousel explainers. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, collaborate with religious and community leaders to emphasize that higher coverage is the solution. In Nigeria and Kenya, use radio and WhatsApp to spread corrective messages through trusted family channels. Messaging should acknowledge the kernel of truth (cVDPV exists) while reframing the conclusion: the vaccine is not the cause, but the fix.