ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has introduced digital polio certification for international travelers as a measure to combat forgery and prevent the spread of the disease beyond its borders, officials said on Friday, vowing to enhance the authenticity of the certification process.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only remaining polio-endemic countries globally, with international travelers from these nations posing a potential threat of spreading the virus to polio-free regions.
Pakistan reported only two cases of the wild polio virus this year, a drop from 20 cases documented last year.
"Polio vaccination is mandatory for all international travelers from Pakistan regardless of age to prevent the spread of the poliovirus to other countries," Dr. Baseet Achakzai, director-general at the Ministry of National Health Services, told Arab News.
"The ministry has issued policy guidelines to relevant authorities to ensure smooth vaccination of polio drops to all international travelers.”
The government has implemented digital polio certification to prevent forgery and enhance the authenticity of vaccination records, officials said.
Designated vaccination centers in Islamabad and across the country are responsible for entering travelers' vaccination data online after administering polio drops. Travelers can then download their polio card from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) website after paying a fee of Rs100 ($0.33) through a debit or credit card.
"The online registration of international travelers for polio certification helps prevent forgery, maintain a proper vaccination record, and curb the virus's spread beyond our border," Dr. Zaeem Zia, a district health officer in Islamabad, told Arab News.
He said up to 800 international travelers had been visiting the polio vaccination center in Islamabad daily, but this number had gone down to 300 after vaccination and registration facilities were made available at all international airports.
"This online registration and certification of the international travelers after getting the polio drops would prove a major step ahead in the eradication of the disease," he said.
