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.

Low Risk

Claim that polio vaccines cause paralysis spread online

Geography
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Themes
Effectiveness
Safety and side effects

Analysis

WHO recently reported that over 100 children in Afghanistan and Pakistan were paralyzed by the wild poliovirus last year. One response asked why polio vaccines cause paralysis, while another argued they don’t work because polio still exists.

Recommendations

The claims were not widespread and didn’t receive much attention, which decreases their risk. Communicators may explain the dangers of polio, the benefits of vaccination, and the goals of vaccine drives.