Zambia Launches a Nationwide Polio Vaccination Campaign to Protect Every Child Under Five

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

The campaign will reach children under 5 in six provinces (Lusaka, Southern, Eastern, Central, Western and Muchinga), supported by strengthened real-time poliovirus detection through the upgraded National Polio Laboratory

20 April 2026 - Lusaka, Zambia. The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners today launched the Sub National Immunization Day (SNID) polio vaccination at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka,

In this round of vaccination which starts today, every eligible child will receive the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), a next-generation polio vaccine used across more than 40 countries to stop outbreaks quickly and safely.

Officiating the event, the Zambian Minister of Health Dr Alex Katakwe, announced that 3.7 million children are expected to be reached throughout the country in the next one week. Two additional rounds will follow later in the year to ensure all children achieve the immunity they need.

"Today, we are acting before a threat becomes a reality, before the lives of children are changed in ways that cannot be undone. Poliovirus has been detected in our environment, and it is our responsibility to ensure it never reaches any child who is at risk. We urge all parents and caregivers to bring their children to the vaccination sites, even if they have been vaccinated before. Only together can we close the immunity gap and stop polio", said Dr Alex Katakwe.

Earlier this year, poliovirus was detected in wastewater samples collected at the Manchinchi site in Lusaka, following detections in neighbouring countries. Environmental detection is often the earliest sign that the virus is circulating unnoticed, placing children under five at immediate risk of infection. Zambia joins Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia in a Southern Africa regional response, taking swift and decisive action against polio, and closing immunity gaps early to ensure no child is put at risk.

Polio is a devastating and life-altering disease. Despite Zambia's past successes in stopping outbreaks and the availability of safe, effective vaccines, the virus still poses a significant threat. It spreads quietly, often without symptoms, and can cause lifelong paralysis. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination offers proven and lasting protection.

As part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), WHO and UNICEF are supporting the campaign by procuring and distributing 4,437,500 doses of polio vaccines to 116 Districts and 3,500 health facilities to support vaccination efforts. Additionally, these partners have facilitated the distribution of 3,400 vaccine carriers and 261 cold boxes to Districts, strengthening cold chain systems to ensure vaccines are safely stored and transported. They have also trained 27,400 health workers, supervisors, monitors, and community-based volunteers in vaccination and surveillance. UNICEF is further engaging communities to build trust in vaccination and ensure families receive accurate, timely information. These efforts are critical not only for polio eradication, but also for preventing the spread of other diseases such as Cholera and Mpox.

"Polio is a preventable tragedy. The novel oral polio vaccine is safe, effective, and our strongest tool to ensure no child suffers lifelong paralysis. The Ministry of Health acted swiftly and seriously the moment the virus was detected, and that matters. We have learned from the past that gains against polio are fragile and can be quickly reversed. To finish this fight, polio vaccination must become part of every child's routine care, and we must earn the trust of caregivers and community leaders to make that happen. No child should be left behind when a lifesaving vaccine exists," stated Dr Saja Farooq Abdullah, UNICEF Representative to Zambia.

The polio vaccination campaign launch was done in a joint event together with the handover of the upgraded National Polio Laboratory under the National Virology Laboratory at the UTH to the GRZ. The laboratory upgrade is a game changer, enabling faster, more accurate detection of poliovirus and strengthening the country's ability to respond in real time. This will eventually enhance Zambia's ability to track virus transmission pathways and stay one step ahead of outbreaks.

"Today, we are marking a powerful dual milestone, Zambia is launching its polio vaccination campaign alongside the official handover of a strengthened polio laboratory, underscoring the country's commitment to both protecting every child through immunization and reinforcing high-quality surveillance to detect and stop the virus" said Dr. Clement Peter Lasuba, WHO Country Representative to Zambia.

Thanks to the 4.4 million doses allocated to Zambia through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), this campaign which has received the generous support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre of Saudi Arabia (KSRelief) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) is made possible through strong collaboration between government and partners.

Polio eradication remains unfinished business and, to this day, it is the only Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) globally. Yet, with each vaccination round and through integrated efforts to strengthen routine immunization and promote safe hygiene practices, Zambia moves closer to making polio a disease of the past.

Note to Editors:

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a public-private partnership led by national governments and six core partners - the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Launched in 1988, GPEI has helped reduce global polio cases by more than 99% and continues to support countries with vaccination, surveillance, outbreak response, and the innovations needed to achieve and sustain a polio-free world.

For more information, please contact:

Andrew H. Phiri, Editor - Communications and Public Relations, Ministry of Health, Zambia, andrew.phiri [at] moh.gov.zm (andrew[dot]phiri[at]moh[dot]gov[dot]zm)

Betty Chella Nalungwe, Chief - Communication and Advocacy (OiC), UNICEF Zambia, bcnalungwe@mfernandez [at] unicef.org (unicef.org)

Kristina Seris, External Relations and Communications Officer, WHO Zambia, serisk [at] who.int (serisk[at]who[dot]int)