Ethiopia kicks off polio vaccination campaign in five regions

ETHIOPIA —Ethiopia has launched a large-scale polio vaccination campaign to protect more than 5.6 million children under five in five regions: Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Addis Ababa, and Sheger City in the Oromia Region.

The initiative uses the novel type 2 oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) to prevent the spread of variant poliovirus, which poses a significant risk to unvaccinated communities.

The campaign, led by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) alongside the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, officially kicked off in Semera, Afar.

The focus is on halting the circulation of vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs).

These variants can emerge when the weakened virus used in oral polio vaccines (OPV) is shed in the faeces of vaccinated children and subsequently spreads among unvaccinated populations.

If the virus is allowed to circulate extensively, it can mutate back into a form capable of causing paralysis.

In a keynote address, Dr. Owen L. Kaluwa, WHO Representative in Ethiopia, highlighted the nation’s ongoing challenges with variant poliovirus outbreaks, stressing Ethiopia’s high risk of polio transmission and importation.

He highlighted the importance of a unified response from all stakeholders and praised the Ethiopian government’s commitment to eradicating polio.

Dr. Kaluwa also acknowledged the success of two earlier nOPV2 vaccination rounds in the Tigray Region, which reached over 1.7 million children under 10 with two vaccine doses in April and June 2024.

The launch event saw vital government and health figures unite, including H.E. Mr. Ali Mahmoud, Vice President of the Afar Regional State, who formally kicked off the campaign at the Semera Health Center.

He was joined by Dr Mesay Hailu, EPHI Director General; Dr Melkamu Abte, Deputy Director of EPHI; Professor Bogale Worku, Chair of the National Polio Certification Committee; and Mr Yasin Habib, Head of the Afar Regional Health Bureau, along with representatives from WHO, UNICEF, GPEI, community leaders, religious and clan leaders, and the media.

Before the campaign, assessments indicated that readiness levels in target areas were above 90%, with logistical resources, including vaccines and other supplies, prepared to meet the needs.

Central and regional supervisors, WHO officers, and WHO-supported monitors using Independent Monitoring (IM) and Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) systems ensured the campaign’s quality and effectiveness.

WHO’s technical and financial support, specifically from the Gates Foundation and Rotary International, proved essential in coordinating, supervising, and monitoring these efforts.

Ethiopia’s commitment to polio eradication dates back to October 2021, when it first launched a national campaign with nOPV2 to control cVDPV2 outbreaks.

The current campaign also incorporated a search for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases and identified zero-dose children through house-to-house visits, ensuring that vulnerable children were vaccinated.

AFP cases discovered were verified, and stool samples were sent to the national polio laboratory for further testing.

Although a few minor adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) were reported, they were generally mild and managed effectively.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.