Pakistan Jails Parents for Refusing Polio Vaccinations

Police arrested 471 parents in northwest Pakistan for refusing to give their children polio vaccinations.

They were jailed this weekend under government orders and charged with endangering public security.

Pakistan police say those who were targeted were not arrested if they agreed to vaccinate their children.

Pakistan is one of three countries where polio is epidemic. This is the first case of such widespread arrests in the country.

Pervez Kamal is director of health for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region in the northwest.

"There was no other option," he told Reuters. "We have run so many awareness campaigns for the parents and general masses that there is no harm in the vaccine, but to no avail," Kamal said.

Government spokesman Feroz Shah said, "This shows determination of the government to eradicate polio."