Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with social media platforms on ending the spread of anti-vaccination fake news relating to polio vaccination and eradication programmes in (a) Pakistan and (b) Afghanistan.

Through DFID’s communications and digital team, we provide regular messaging on the positive impact of immunisation globally through our support to global organisations including GAVI - the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

GPEI monitors the anti-vaccination social media news, and is aware of online videos and text messages have been prominent in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Through our support to GPEI we ensure that strong communications and social mobilisation platforms are in place to dispel myths and encourage immunisation.

In both Pakistan and Afghanistan GPEI works closely with local partner organisations and civil society groups on the ground with good access to communities in order to increase the understanding and importance of polio vaccinations, and increase the numbers being vaccinated.