VACCINE REFUSAL

AN OBSTACLE TO A POLIO-FREE WORLD

Abstract

.Objective: To evaluate the pattern and reasons of reluctance/ refusal to polio vaccination with an aim to gain insights and learn
lessons during Polio campaign. Setting: Polio campaign days during 2009 in Muzaffar Garah district between January to April 2009. Study
design: Cross sectional survey. Material and Methods: Survey done during intensive polio days during the three campaigns this year by
detailed interview with parents, senior members of the family regarding reluctance to administer oral polio drops in the Muzaffar Garah district.
Reasons and frequency of reluctance were documented. After counseling the WHO team managed to convince part of the reluctant population.
The data was once again collected from the unconvinced population of parents who declined till the end. Results: During the survey there were
404 reluctant parents.236(58%) of these were convinced and the remaining stayed unvaccinated despite counseling. Amongst the group that
showed initial reluctance. 132(32.5%) refused to cooperate due to religious misconceptions. Of the confirmed deniers 116(69%) belonged to
a conservative religious group The most easy to convince group was the group demanding monitory benefits for cooperating in Polio campaign
13(7%). Conclusion: People refuse Polio vaccination due to misinformation /misconception especially on religious grounds. The die hard
refusals were mostly linked to religious reasons. Education of religious leaders is the way forward to drive Polio to extinction.