The World Health Organization (WHO), on Friday, said More than 80 million doses of polio vaccines will be administered to more than 23 million children under 5 years in the four-round vaccination drive in five southern African countries after Malawi declared an outbreak on 17 February.
The Feb, 17 outbreak was the first such case in the country in 30 years, and the first in Africa since the region was certified free of indigenous wild poliovirus in 2020.
In a press statement made available to Within Nigeria by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Malawi will on Sunday launch the first round of vaccination campaigns against wild poliovirus type 1.
“Malawi will on Sunday launch the first round of vaccination campaigns against wild poliovirus type 1. More than 80 million doses will be administered to more than 23 million children under 5 years in the four-round vaccination drive in five southern African countries after Malawi declared an outbreak on 17 February”
The first phase of the polio vaccination campaign targets 9.4 million children in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. However, three subsequent rounds in which Zimbabwe will also take part are set for April, June, and July and aim to reach more than 23 million children with more than 80 million doses of the bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for wild poliovirus (type 1).
WHO disclosed that their objective is to reach children who are either not immunized, or only partially protected, and to equally boost immunity in those who have been immunized.
“ Mass vaccinations, or supplementary vaccinations, aim to interrupt the circulation of poliovirus by immunizing every child under 5 years with oral polio vaccine regardless of previous immunization status. The objective is to reach children who are either not immunized, or only partially protected, and to boost immunity in those who have been immunized. Supplementary immunization is intended to complement, not replace routine immunization.”
The African region was declared and certified as free of indigenous wild polio in August 2020 after eliminating all forms of wild poliovirus. The region’s certification as wild polio-free remains unchanged.
Within Nigeria gathered that Laboratory analysis linked the strain detected in Malawi to the one circulating in Pakistan’s Sindh Province in 2019.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, noted that WHO is “ acting fast to halt the outbreak and extinguish the threat through effective vaccinations in Malawi and its neighbors”
“Polio is a highly infectious and untreatable disease that can result in permanent paralysis. In support of Malawi and its neighbors, we are acting fast to halt this outbreak and extinguish the threat through effective vaccinations, The African region has already defeated wild poliovirus due to a monumental effort by countries. We have the know-how and are tirelessly working to ensure that every child lives and thrives in a continent free of polio.” he sad
Environmental surveillance for polioviruses has been set up in 11 sites across four cities in Malawi. The sites are in Lilongwe District which encompasses the capital Lilongwe where the initial, and so far, only case, was detected. Other sites are in Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Zomba cities.
WHO said trained surge teams of national officers have been deployed at the district level to facilitate the campaign and ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated.
“Teams are collecting samples from the environment and sending them for analysis to laboratories while active surveillance is also underway in health facilities and in communities. In preparation for the vaccination drives, trained surge teams of national officers have been deployed at the district level to facilitate the campaign and ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated. Maintenance and repair of cold chain facilities are also ongoing.”
The Health Organization stressed that the only way to prevent the further spread of the virus is through proper administration of a safe, simple, and effective vaccine.
“ Polio is a viral disease with no cure. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours, particularly among children under 5 years. The virus is transmitted from person to person mainly through contamination by faecal matter or, less frequently, through contaminated water or food, and multiplies in the intestine. While there is no cure for polio, the disease can be prevented through administration of a safe, simple, and effective vaccine.”