Over 500 Pakistani Parents Arrested for Children's Failure to Get Polio Vaccine
The 513 arrests took place Monday as part of a government campaign to administer polio vaccines in parts of Pakistan's province. Those arrested will be released on bail if they sign an affidavit stating they will let their children get vaccinated, according to the deputy commissioner. This was described as a last ditch effort to clear Polio from "cluster zones" where large numbers of families where they have refused to let their children get vaccinated. Pakistan's vaccination rate is inordinately low due to reasons including attacks on medical workers, displacement of people due to ongoing military operations and lack of trust by some families. In 2014, Pakistan had 327 cases. The next closest country was Nigeria with 36 cases.
-Source: CNN Website