Pakistan Jails Parents for Polio Refusal

Pakistani authorities have arrested hundreds of parents for refusing to vaccinate their children for polio, officials said Monday. Authorities have jailed 471 people on charges of endangering public security in the northwest part of Pakistan, said Feroz Shah, a spokesman for the district administration in Peshawar. Polio, which is endemic in Pakistan, has resurfaced since the Taliban banned vaccinations while some parents fear they will lead to sterilization. “This is the first time such drastic action was taken,” Shah said. “This shows the determination of the government to eradicate polio.” Authorities said parents were not arrested if they agreed to vaccinate their children.