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Many countries announced the launch of polio vaccination campaigns over the next few weeks, including Djibouti, Nigeria, Iran, and Indonesia. Some social media users claimed that politicians use polio campaigns to get positive media attention. Other posts spread conspiracy theories about polio and polio vaccines. Many commenters suggested that polio vaccines are not effective and are “crimes against children” that cause bad behavior and autism.

An Afghan delegation attended the Global Polio Eradication Initiative conference in Doha, Qatar. The representatives voiced concern about the polio crisis in Afghanistan, especially since the return of refugees who were deported from Pakistan. Some commenters expressed frustration that Taliban officials who once banned polio vaccines as haram (prohibited in Islam) are now declaring them halal (permissible), suggesting they were paid to do so. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s health minister announced the country is set to launch a joint polio vaccine campaign with Afghanistan in the near future. Social media users in both countries opposed the decision. Several posts falsely claim that polio vaccines contain “pig’s material.” Many posts called the vaccines “poison” meant for “destruction,” while others expressed distrust in vaccine campaigns and medicines from Pakistan.

Some social media users responded negatively to an upcoming national polio campaign in Afghanistan. Posts claimed that polio vaccines are “forbidden,” cause other diseases, and are “poison to Muslims.” Several posts stated that polio vaccines are for “infidels.”

A popular social media account repeated the myth that an “untested” polio vaccine funded by Bill Gates left over 490,000 children in India paralyzed. Although the post is about the oral polio vaccine, it includes a video about a different conspiracy theory claiming that an HPV vaccine injured thousands of girls in India.

Pakistan launched a week-long national polio vaccine campaign on April 21, targeting 45 million children. Although most responses to the campaign were positive, some posts denounced vaccines as “poisonous” and a “gift to the enemies of Muslims.” Several posts also objected to the armed security with polio teams, claiming that polio drops are given at gunpoint. 

Online conversations about global health funding continued in the wake of the U.S.’s withdrawal from WHO and cessation of foreign aid. World leaders, health officials, and aid workers warned that the cessation of funding would have devastating effects on global health, including polio eradication efforts. Some social media users claim the aid did not benefit African people, question why their countries are dependent on aid from the U.S., and accuse their leaders of misusing funds meant for public health. One user dismissed concerns about funding for anti-polio work in Afghanistan and Pakistan as “no problem” because it only affects “terror countries.”

A political commentator who ran for president during the 2021 Ugandan election claimed in a recent social media post that “so-called vaccines” are being thrown at Africans after they “survived the COVID shots,” listing malaria, mpox, and HIV vaccines. Additionally, the post accuses Bill Gates of being a eugenicist who wants to reduce the global population to one billion. The post received nearly 200 replies, with some questioning how the polio vaccine was developed and claiming that polio is made in a lab. Many responses expressed a general distrust of vaccines, claiming they are “poison” and unnecessary.

On January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from WHO, raising concerns about impacts on funding for global disease prevention, pandemic preparedness, and polio eradication. Several social media posts from East and West African countries discussed how the withdrawal may impact the continent. Many posts suggested that this is a wake-up call for African nations to be less dependent on international aid. While some posts expressed concern about how low-income nations will be affected, other users praised the withdrawal. Posts called WHO “the greatest enemy to man,” corrupt, and “satanic.” Claims also circulated that all vaccines are dangerous and unnecessary.