I have a new piece at ForeignPolicy.com on the consequences of the CIA’s fake vaccination program on legitimate health campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The punchline:
Given the precarious relationship between health workers, militants, and civilians in many areas of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, the existence of a fake vaccination program ran by the CIA is likely all the evidence many need to accuse all vaccinators and health workers of spying. The end result will be fewer families willing to have their children vaccinated, and more attacks on health workers providing any manner of medical care to communities. Some people will no doubt say that the operation was a reasonable and necessary attempt to confirm bin Laden’s location, and that nobody was directly put at risk as a result. Tell that to the next vaccination team in Abbottabad.
You can read the entire article at FP’s Afpak Channel.
Christopher R. Albon is a political science Ph.D. specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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