Peshawar: Pakistani police on Monday arrested over 450 parents for refusing to vaccinate their children during a fresh anti-polio campaign Peshawar to eradicate the disease from the country which contributes nearly 80 per cent of polio cases reported globally.
Police arrested narly 450 parents who refused to administer polio vaccine to their children during the ongoing two-day anti-polio campaign, Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Khan Mehsud said.
The parents have been been shifted to Peshawar Central Jail, he said, adding that more than 1000 arrest warrants were issued for parents who had refused the vaccination. A crackdown for arrest of the remaining accused has been initiated, police said.
Militant groups often attack polio teams as they see vaccination campaigns a cover for espionage. There are also long running rumours about polio drops causing infertility. Pakistan is making efforts despite odds to eradicate polio and vaccination campaigns are frequently launched to reach the targeted population.