Secretary for Health Charles Mwansambo says the Ministry of Health will conduct round two of the polio vaccination campaign from Monday 25th to 28th April 2022.
The polio vaccination campaign is being conducted after the ministry declared an outbreak of polio after a polio case was reported in the country in February, 2022.
According to a statement released by Mwansambo today, the campaign will be targeting all children who are less than five years of age irrespective of whether they received the full routine polio vaccine before or not.
“The vaccination will be done through door to door visitation by health workers, in all government and CHAM health facilities and in all special sites designated to give polio vaccines in all districts.
“All children who will receive polio vaccine during the campaign will be marked on the little finger with an indelible ink as an indication that they have been vaccinated. The vaccination exercise will be starting at eight o’clock in the morning and finishing at five o’clock in the afternoon,” reads the statement in part.
He added that the ministry is currently implementing a number of strategies to control further spread of the polio virus in addition to the vaccination campaign.
Other strategies being undertaken include early seeking of medical care: once a child less than 15 years suddenly develops paralysis of one leg or arm or both arms and legs, or his/her limbs become weak or fails to walk or walking with difficulties without any explained cause.
“Let us control the spread of the polio virus by getting all children less than five years vaccinated during this campaign,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has also advised all caregivers of under five children to continue going with their children to nearest clinics for routine immunizations.
