QUETTA, Pakistan — On Wednesday, the planned polio vaccination campaign in the troubled southern Balochistan province of Pakistan was postponed following a boycott by health workers protesting against proposed privatization of state hospitals.

Authorities had initiated a nationwide vaccination campaign on Monday aimed at immunizing 45 million children, as Pakistan and its neighbor Afghanistan are still battling the poliovirus, which has not been eradicated in these countries, according to the World Health Organization.

Anwarul Haq, from the National Emergency Operation Center for Polio Eradication, announced that the vaccination efforts in Balochistan would be rescheduled to December 30 for what he described as “better preparedness.” However, no further details were provided about the decision.

Additional insights from health and government officials indicated that the postponement was due to the refusal of health workers to participate in the vaccination drive until the government abandoned its plans to privatize the hospitals where they are employed.

Moreover, health workers’ representatives emphasized the importance of not utilizing unqualified individuals for the vaccination campaign, adding pressure to the government to address their concerns.

Balochistan has been facing significant challenges with polio, reporting the highest incidences in the nation, with 26 of the 63 confirmed polio cases recorded since the beginning of the year. The vaccination efforts will proceed in other regions of Pakistan until December 22.

Despite ongoing violence and threats against workforce engaged in immunization campaigns, Pakistan continues to organize these efforts. There are prevalent misconceptions among militants, who falsely assert that these vaccination activities are part of a Western conspiracy aimed at sterilizing children.

Since the 1990s, over 200 polio workers and the police forces assigned to ensure their safety have tragically lost their lives, as reported by health officials and relevant authorities.