“Does Pakistan still have polio cases?”: Exploring discussions on polio and polio vaccine in online news comments in Pakistan

Abstract Introduction Polio, which is caused by poliovirus, a contagious, potentially crippling, and deadly disease. Pakistan one of the countries in polio still endemic 21st century. In 2019, 146 cases were reported across country with some resulting deaths. Following spread rumors insinuating that children falling sick after receiving an anti-polio vaccine, mob attacked set fire to small hospital Peshawar district April 2019. The present study investigates readers’ discussions emerged from Dawn’s online comments on polio-related news stories Pakistan. Methods Using thematic analysis, we analyzed (N = 2216) made readers published Dawn.com January 1, 2012, March 2020. Results Seven major themes analysis comments: 1) reasons for challenges failure eradicate polio; 2) proposed solutions policy changes 3) misinformation; 4) criticism, frustration, shame; 5) comparison other countries; 6) internet as public sphere; 7) suffering, empathy, appreciation. Overall, our findings suggested commenters are knowledgeable about vaccines consider serious threat health Conclusion Our not only validated previous such reasons, challenges, issues related vaccination, but also found new sites concerning misinformation vaccination