A nationwide polio vaccination campaign, targeting all children under 10 years old, with a view to rapidly interrupt virus transmission and prevent further outbreaks has kickstarted using the novel OPV type two (nOPV2) vaccine following the confirmation of circulating poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Zimbabwe.
The, campaign, launched by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), will utilize the high-quality oral polio vaccines and will be implemented in two phases, reaching an estimated 4 million children across the country during each round.
To ensure wide coverage, it will combine the usual vaccination at health facilities with a door-to-door approach.
Through routine environmental surveillance seventeen circulating poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were detected in sewage samples collected in Harare. Additionally, through intensified disease surveillance the Ministry of Health and Child Care identified three human cases of polio in Mashonaland West and Harare Provinces.
Without urgent action there is a high risk of spread of polio.
“The detection of cVDPV2 is a serious concern, but we are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively. This nationwide vaccination campaign demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the health of every child in Zimbabwe,” said Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care.
This is the first time Zimbabwe is using the novel OPV2 vaccine, a critical new and safe tool in the fight against cVDPV2 launched by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 2021. The nOPV2 has been successfully used in several African countries, including Ethiopia, Benin, Congo Republic, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Polio is a highly infectious disease, mostly affecting young children, that attacks the nervous system and can lead to spinal and respiratory paralysis, and in some cases death.
In support of the polio vaccination campaign large scale communication activities are rolled-out to ensure parents are fully informed and motivated to have their children vaccinated. The social mobilization campaigns include the use of mass media and inter-personal communication.
During this campaign, the Ministry, UNICEF, and WHO are calling for:
- All parents and caregivers to bring their children under 10 years old for vaccination during the campaign.
- Healthcare workers to be vigilant in identifying and reporting suspected polio cases.
- Community and Religious Leaders to support communities during the vaccination campaign and promote public awareness about polio.
A swift response to the outbreak to protect children at risk of polio and prevent further spread of the virus was possible thanks to the technical and financial support from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a consortium that includes Rotary International, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GAVI-The Vaccine Alliance, WHO and UNICEF.
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