PESHAWAR: Lack of action against the people involved in burning down a basic health unit in Mashokhel village on the pretext of anti-polio vaccine’s reaction has not only deprived people of primary health care but also emboldened the anti-vaxxers, who say that they will not allow immunisation of children.

The BHU established 30 years ago received about 100 patients, half for general illnesses and half for vaccination, went into disuse after it was burnt by infuriated mob following 45,000 children checked into hospitals by gullible parents under misconception that they had been poisoned.

Two days later, an inquiry report revealed that the vaccines administered to children were safe.

PPA shows concerns over polio vaccination strategy

It recommended cases against private schools, elected representatives, local quacks and individuals for inciting mob and creating psychological fear among people. The inquiry also recommended setting up SOPs for prayer leaders, use of loudspeakers at mosques and arrest of anti-vaccine people by FIA.

The government has transferred 10 staffers from the BHU to the nearby health facilities and authorities say there is no indication that the facility would be rebuilt in near future.

About 350 people set afire the facility in Mashokhel, known for chronic refusals of polio vaccine for several years and the people seemed poised not to accept vaccination in future.

“We regret torching the BHU but it was a kneejerk reaction to vaccine,” said a local cleric.

Mualana Qazi Mohammad Hussain, a prayer leader in a mosque close to the BHU, said they were not averse to polio vaccination but exercise the right to know about the vaccine one given to their children.

“If the government does not test the vaccine, we will not let our children to get it. On that day, some children showed reaction and were taken to hospitals with abdominal pain and nausea,” he said.

“We want to fix responsibility on the people, who administered wrong vaccines to our children after which there is complete scare,” said the prayer leader.

In the same neighbourhood, the health workers, who remained associated with the polio campaign, faced threats and had to stay back home to avoid public’s wrath.

Mohammad Shah, another resident of the area, said two of his children had fallen unconscious due to vaccination that day and they wanted to ensure its safety prior to administering it to his children again.

Pakistan Paediatrics Association (PPA) has shown concerns over the present strategy for polio vaccination and says that the programme will further suffer as rumours are being floated by anti-vaccine lobby.

The Public Health Association, an organisation striving for promotion of health care, fears the incident would complicate issues with regard to vaccination for all preventable ailments.

It has suggested modifying strategy to ensure safety of workers and immunisation of children simultaneously.

The flashpoint, a local school where the reaction drama was staged, has not faced any action. Same is true for others pinpointed in health department’s inquiry report.

World Health Organisation says that the OPV are safe and effectively used to eradicate the virus worldwide except Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

Parents’ reluctance to vaccinate their children is an administrative issue.

Non-implementation of recommendations of inquiry will increase threats to polio exist more than ever because those, who created the drama successfully on that day, are known opponents of polio vaccination.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2019