Polio Pulse

Polio Pulse provides social listening insights to support GPEI’s polio interventions on disinformation, crisis communication, and strategic communication. Data is monitored from polio-endemic and outbreak countries and geographies classified by GPEI, covering 12 major languages spoken in these regions. The platform is managed by the UNICEF Digital Community Engagement (DCE) team.

Medium Risk

Stories of deaths and side effects spread faster than the facts

Geography
India
Pakistan
Nigeria
Themes
Safety and side effects

Analysis

Ten posts alleging severe adverse events or deaths after polio vaccination surfaced in India, Pakistan, and Nigeria. Most were anecdotal, with poor sourcing or stock images misused to illustrate claims. A local blog post titled 'Child died after polio drops yesterday' was amplified on Facebook, gaining over a million views. Although small in number, these claims achieved wide visibility thanks to high-follower accounts and sensational headlines. Peaks aligned with news cycles, reinforcing the perception of cover-ups and danger.

Recommendations

Implement rapid-response communication protocols: acknowledge reports, explain the verification process, and contextualize with base rates of adverse events. Use pediatricians and trusted health professionals to clarify outcomes, avoiding myth-first repetition. In India and Pakistan, publish timely updates in mainstream outlets to prevent rumors from spreading unchecked. Given the potential to generate panic, even isolated posts require active monitoring and quick factual counter-messaging.