Public Perception of Health Campaigns: The Case Of Cia’s Fake Immunization Campaign in Abbottabad to Track Osama Bin Laden

Abstract

The research project involves discovering whether the fake immunization drive carried out by CIA in order to trace Osama Bin Laden by the DNA samples of his family members has led to a change in public perception towards immunization campaigns or not. This has been done by using an exploratory qualitative case study design. Data has been collected through interviews and a household survey was conducted in Abbottabad which has then been analyzed by using discourse analysis and case study analysis techniques. The data collected has been analyzed in four clusters: social, political, cultural and security. These clusters include the themes identified during the course of our study. It has been concluded that there has been no change in public attitudes towards immunization campaigns in Abbottabad after the fake immunization drive of 2011. It is recommended that to further improve immunization a reward system should be introduced. There should be similar efforts amongst the parties across the Durand Line and forums for discussion should be open regarding the spread of polio across borders. With the limited amount of data gathered, it has been observed that public perception towards immunization has not changed due to the fake campaign, but by implementing recommendations, the state of vaccination can be improved.