South Sudan launches campaign to vaccinate 3.47M against polio

SOUTH SUDAN—South Sudan has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign to immunise 3.47 million children aged 0 to 59 months against polio using the innovative Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2).

This new initiative builds upon the country’s ongoing efforts to combat the spread of polio.

This campaign follows a previous one in November 2024, which successfully reached 3.3 million children after 12 confirmed cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) were reported.

In response to the detection of 36 confirmed cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) across eight counties in Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Upper Nile, and Jonglei States, the Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and a dedicated coalition of partners, has intensified efforts to protect the country’s youngest citizens.

This comprehensive initiative highlights not only the critical importance of vaccination but also the need for persistent community engagement amid challenging conditions.

Moreover, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, which has led to significant population displacements, poses a formidable challenge to reaching every child.

Despite these hurdles, the committed polio team is undeterred. They have organized logistics and mobilized resources to ensure that even the most remote villages and isolated settlements will have access to the life-saving vaccines over the next four days.

It is important to understand that cases of cVDPV2 occur when the weakened live virus from the oral polio vaccine spreads among people who are not fully immunized.

 Although this situation is rare, it can lead to paralysis. The campaign aims to build robust immunity in children by providing multiple doses of the vaccine, protecting them against both the wild and vaccine-derived strains of the virus.

Dr. Harriet Pasquale Akello, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, stressed the urgency of the campaign.

She urged all caregivers to take advantage of this opportunity, noting that every child under five must be vaccinated to help stop the spread of poliomyelitis.

“Our goal is clear: to halt the transmission of polio and secure a healthier future for all children in South Sudan,” she declared.

Likewise, Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, the WHO Representative for South Sudan, expressed his gratitude towards the government, local communities, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partnership.

He emphasized that the campaign is a significant stride towards the complete eradication of polio and underscored the importance of collective action.

UNICEF Deputy Representative Obia Achieng added that UNICEF remains steadfast in its support for this vital initiative.

She highlighted ongoing efforts to maintain the vaccine cold chain, mobilize communities, and empower frontline health workers to reach even the most inaccessible areas.

Since South Sudan declared a Public Health Emergency in December 2023, three national vaccination rounds have been successfully implemented in February, April, and November 2024.

The current campaign, running through 7 February 2025, is expected to be the final round in this vigorous response.

As of January 2025, similar cases have been reported in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Mozambique, French Guiana, and Guinea.

These united efforts in South Sudan serve as a powerful reminder that protecting every child is essential to defeating polio once and for all.

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