by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Oct 18, 2024 | Global Health |
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced the “difficult decision” to extend the timelines needed to achieve polio eradication. This decision, made by the Polio Oversight Board (POB) in July 2024, was shared in October 2024 with an update to funding requirements. Although GPEI recognised the “unprecedented progress” made so far, it highlighted the danger of falling into an “unacceptable future”, demanding collaboration and support for the next stages of eradication efforts.
Progress against polio
GPEI commented that “for more than three and a half decades” it has been supporting governments and health workers to make “unprecedented progress toward the promise of a polio-free world”. Through this work, more than 20 million people are “walking who would otherwise have been paralysed by this dreadful disease”. “Billions” of children have benefitted from lifesaving immunisations, and five out of six WHO Regions are free from wild poliovirus.
Closing the gaps
With broad global success, the programme is largely now “concentrated in some of the most complicated and fragile settings in which to deliver basic healthcare”. It faces “serious”, from “persistent violence to climate emergencies”. Indeed, the transmission of polio in conflict-affected areas in Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen, provides a “stark reminder” that “where conflict debilitates health and sanitation systems, polio will inevitably appear” unless eradication of all forms of the virus can be achieved.
Extended timelines
In recognition of the continued challenges, the GPEI’s POB decided to extend the timelines needed to achieve polio eradication to the end of 2027 (wild poliovirus) and the end of 2029 (type 2 variant poliovirus). The decision, made in July 2024, was informed by “critical analysis and expert consultations”. The consequence of this extension is a need for further financial resources.
In October 2024, the POB determined that the total funding needs of the extended 2022-2029 strategic period are US$6.9 billion; this is an increase from the US$4.8 billion projected for the 2022-2026 strategic period. Donors have already committed an “incredible” US$4.5 billion, leaving US$2.4 billion “urgently needed”. The funds will enable the programme to make “tactical shifts”, allowing GPEI to:
- Reach more children with polio vaccines by working with polio-affected country leaders to strengthen programme implementation
- Deploy innovative tools like novel vaccines and surveillance methods to further strengthen outbreak response
- Improve accountability at all levels, from global leadership to field managers
- Work with routine immunisation programmes by integrating polio services where possible
- Deepen relationships by strengthening community engagement
These “shifts” are driven by partners’ expertise and a “programme-wide commitment to double down on the toughest but most critical challenges”.
GPEI warns that shortcomings in funding or executing these efforts would have “serious consequences”.
“Without dedicated eradication efforts, within a decade, many thousands of children around the world could once again be paralysed or die from polio each year. This is an unacceptable future.”
The importance of donor and polio-affected country governments supported is highlighted as central in reaching all children with lifesaving vaccines and strengthening health systems in the process.
“With strengthened support and collaboration, together we can deliver a world where all children, families, and communities are forever free from polio.”
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by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Sep 17, 2024 | Global Health |
The first round of an emergency polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip reached around 560,000 children under ten between 1st and 12th September 2024. WHO reported that the campaign delivered novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to 558,963 children after the identification of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in July and August 2024. The effort used an “extensive network” of teams, providing vaccinations at selected fixed sites. Mobile and transit teams engaged families living in shelter homes, tents, and camps for the displaced, and community workers raised awareness.
Efforts continue
The initial campaign target was 640,000 children, which WHO suggests may have been an over-estimate in the absence of an accurate survey and population displacement. The campaign used 473 teams, including 230 mobile teams, and 143 vaccination sites in central Gaza. This was followed by 91 fixed sites and 384 mobile teams in southern Gaza. The campaign concluded in northern Gaza, with 127 teams at fixed sites and 104 mobile teams. Each of the three phases was conducted under an “area-specific humanitarian pause” of nine hours daily, agreed to guarantee the safety of communities and health workers and ensure vaccination targets could be achieved.
749 social mobilisers engaged communities, encouraged families to vaccinate their children, and addressed concerns. Trained monitoring teams were deployed during the campaign to oversee the efforts, and a further 65 independent monitors will now cross-check the proportion of children vaccinated in the Gaza Strip to independently assess the level of coverage achieved in this first round. These monitors will need “safe, unimpeded access” to households, markets, transit points, and health facilities to check that children have purple dye on their little fingers, signifying vaccination.
The second round of the campaign is expected to follow in four weeks, providing a second dose of nOPV2. WHO, UNICEF, and UNRWA hope to reach enough children and stop further transmission, calling for another round of humanitarian pauses with “unimpeded access” to children in areas that require special coordination. The organisations highlight the need for a “long-lasting ceasefire” so that families can “begin to heal and rebuild their lives”.
Public engagement
WHO recognises the “traditionally positive health seeking behaviour among the Palestinian people” as critical to the success of the first round. Families reportedly “flocked” to health facilities to ensure that their children received vaccinations. This positive reaction was complemented by an “impactful campaign to raise awareness and mobilise the public”.
Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), commented on the “incredible resilience” of helath and community workers who carried out the campaign at “unprecedented scale and speed under the toughest conditions in Gaza”. Additionally, “swift action” from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, from initial detection to campaign launch, “speaks to the effectiveness of the polio programme”.
“In areas where humanitarian pauses took place, the campaign brought not just vaccines, but moments of calm. As we prepare for the next round in four weeks, we’re hopeful these pauses will hold, because this campaign has clearly shown the world what’s possible when peace is given a chance.”
Jean Gough, UNICEF Special Representative in the State of Palestine emphasised the importance of carrying out the “ambitious campaign…quickly, safely, and effectively”. This will protect children in the Gaza Strip and neighbouring countries from “life-altering poliovirus”.
“The progress made in this first round is encouraging, but the job is far from done. We are poised to finish the task and call on all involved to ensure we can do so in the next round in four weeks’ time, for the sake of children everywhere.”
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by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Sep 6, 2024 | Global Health |
WHO announced in September 2024 that the first phase of a polio vaccination campaign has been “successfully” completed in Gaza. Over 187,000 children under ten years were vaccinated with novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in central Gaza between 1st and 3rd September. Coverage for this phase has exceeded the initial estimated target of 157,000 children, which WHO attributes to population movement towards central Gaza and expanded coverage in areas outside the humanitarian pause zone. Vaccination will continue at four large health facilities in central Gaza to ensure that no child is missed in the area.
First phase complete
The first phase was conducted by 513 teams, comprising more than 2180 health and community outreach workers. Vaccinations were offered at 143 fixed sites, including hospitals, medical points, primary care centres, camps where displaced people are living, key public gathering spaces, food and water distribution points, and transit routes. Mobile teams also visited tents and hard-to-reach areas to ensure families who were unable to attend fixed sites were able to access vaccines. Special missions to Al-Maghazi, Al-Bureij, and Al-Mussader were also needed to reach a “substantial number of children” who were eligible for vaccination but unable to reach vaccination sites.
Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territory described the completed first phase as “positive momentum”.
“It has been extremely encouraging to see thousands of children being able to access polio vaccines, with the support of their resilient families and courageous health workers, despite the deplorable conditions they have braved over the last 11 months.”
The next phases
The next phase of the campaign will be conducted in southern Gaza between 5th and 8th September, targeting an estimated 340,000 children under ten. This phase will involve 517 teams, including 384 mobile teams. Almost 300 community outreach workers have begun outreach to families in southern Gaza to raise awareness about the campaign. 490 vaccine carriers, 90 cold storage boxes, and additional supplies have been transferred to Khan Younis for distribution. The third and final phase of the campaign will be implemented in northern Gaza between 9th and 11th September, targeting around 150,000 children.
Dr Peeperkorn commented that the “successful delivery” of the first phase is a “culmination of immense coordination among various partners” and donors. It “underscores the importance of peace for the health and well-being of people in Gaza”.
“We call on all parties to continue fulfilling their commitment to the humanitarian pauses as the second phase of the campaign begins tomorrow.”
Each round of the campaign must achieve vaccine coverage of 90% of higher to stop the polio outbreak and reduce the risk of re-emergence “given the severely disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems in the Gaza Strip”. Coverage will be monitored throughout the campaign with the potential to extend vaccinations if needed to meet coverage targets.
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by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Sep 2, 2024 | Infection |
The detection of poliovirus environmental samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in July 2024 has led to the initiation of an inoculation campaign intended to reach more than 640,000 children. The campaign is supported by a US$5 million pledge from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and delivered in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and UNRWA. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) describes the campaign as a “critical effort to prevent an outbreak” in the territory, which has recorded the first case of paralytic polio in 25 years.
Poliovirus detected
WHO warned in August 2024 that poliovirus was detected on 16th July 2024 in environmental samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah, collected on 23rd June 2024. Sequencing analysis confirmed that the circulating variant type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2) isolates are linked to a variant poliovirus strain that was last detected in Egypt in 2023. Since then, three children have presented with suspected acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), a “common symptom” of polio. Stool samples have been sent for testing at the Jordan National Polio Laboratory.
Circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) are a “rare” but increasing form of polio that presents a risk due to “low immunisation rates within communities”. GPEI emphasises the “many benefits” of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) but highlights that the vaccine virus is excreted in the stool. In communities with low immunisation rates the virus can mutate and spread, leading to cVDPVs.
Humanitarian pauses
WHO and UNICEF urged “all parties to the conflict” to implement “humanitarian pauses” in the Gaza Strip for seven days. This would allow two rounds of vaccination campaigns to be conducted. In each round, the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), collaborating with WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA, and partners, will provide two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to more than 640,000 children under the age of ten.
More than 1.6 million doses were expected by the end of August and “detailed plans” to support vaccinators and social mobilisers in reaching eligible children were finalised. 708 teams, involving around 2,700 health workers, will deliver the campaign. To prevent the spread of polio and reduce the risk of re-emergence, WHO aims for “at least” 95% vaccination coverage in each round of the campaign, recognising the “severely disrupted” health, water, and sanitation systems.
by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Jul 31, 2024 | Technology |
Biological E announced in July 2024 that WHO has granted prequalification status to the company’s Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). Biological E describes this as a “monumental stride” towards global polio eradication, celebrating the 10th Biological E vaccine to receive this status. nOPV2 is a next-generation live, attenuated oral vaccine that “significantly reduces” the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks and is intended for use in countries affected by these outbreaks in a “crucial moment in the fight against polio”.
A strong candidate
Biological E states that nOPV2 can tackle the “persistent threat” of circulating cVDPV2; the vaccine boasts “improved genetic stability” with a “significantly” lower risk of “seeding new outbreaks” in low-immunity environments, compared to the Sabin poliovirus type 2 (mOPV2) vaccine. Through “extensive” clinical trials the safety and immunogenicity of nOPV2 have been “rigorously” evaluated. Furthermore, use in outbreak regions has shown that nOPV2 can “significantly” decrease the incidence of cVDPV2 outbreaks.
Mahima Datla, Managing Director of Biological E, is “pleased to be a part of the global effort to eradicate polio”.
“Our collective quest to eradicate polio marks a significant milestone with the WHO prequalification of nOPV2. This vaccine has been specifically designed to address concerns about vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP), which has occurred in approximately 2 to 4 cases per million births with the traditional OPV due to the vaccine virus reverting to a virulent form.”
Ms Datla also recognised the role of key collaborator PT Bio Farma (PTB) in Indonesia and supporter, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation provided a grant to support efforts to meet the global demand. She described the PTB collaboration as a “privilege” and extended “heartfelt gratitude” to the Gates Foundation for “entrusting us with the responsibility of manufacturing nOPV2”.
“Together we are committed to advancing the cause of global health equity and guaranteeing that no child is affected by the devastating effects of polio. The significance of this milestone extends beyond scientific achievement; it represents a beacon a hope for millions of children and families around the globe.”
Ms Datla states that administering more than 1 billion doses of nOPV2 in outbreak regions is “crucial to realising the dream of a polio-free world”.
We look forward to welcoming Dr Ajoy Chakrabarti, Portfolio and Platform Lead, Polio, Global Health Programme, Gates Foundation to the Congress in Barcelona this October; get your tickets to join us here and don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletters here.
by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Jul 1, 2024 | Technology |
In June 2024, PharmaJet announced that the Tropis Intradermal (ID) Needle-free System will be used for a house-to-house polio immunisation in Somalia. The campaign, a collaboration of the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), WHO, UNICEF, BMGF, Gavi, and CDC, will target over 170,000 children across 4 districts in Banadir. It will be conducted in two rounds, offering children between 4 and 59 months the needle-free polio vaccine and novel oral polio vaccine to reach 95% coverage.
Fighting an ongoing outbreak
PharmaJet states that an ongoing variant poliovirus outbreak, which is the longest running of its kind, has paralysed 38 children in Somalia. In April, Somalia’s Minister for Health and Human services, His Excellency Dr Ali Haji Adam, met high-level representatives of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to review progress and accelerate efforts to end the 7-year outbreak. The Somalia Emergency Action Plan (SEAP) 3, presented at the meeting, “builds on measures taken so far and will fill existing gaps in polio eradication efforts”.
“The plan prioritises robust, high-quality polio vaccination campaigns and better poliovirus surveillance. Efforts will also be targeted at high-risk populations in hard-to-reach areas and where variant poliovirus is circulating, as well as underserved, displaced, and nomadic communities.”
PharmaJet’s involvement in the campaign
The campaign in Somalia comes after “positive results” from a WHO-lead pilot in Nigeria. This demonstrated that administering an injectable vaccine with Tropis facilitated high coverage rates and that most parents (94%) and health staff members (93%) preferred needle-free injections. In this campaign 87% of target group children received immunisation. The Tropis System was also deployed for polio vaccinations in the Berbera Region of Somaliland, supporting high immunisation coverage thanks to preference for the use of intradermal needle-free delivery and parental enthusiasm for less invasive administration.
Paul LaBarre, Vice President, Global Business Development, PharmaJet, is “very pleased” with the collaboration on “this important campaign”. With the experience of delivering “over 10 million polio immunisations” with needle-free technology in Nigeria, Pakistan, and Somalia”, the team is “very committed” to the GPEI.
“In Somalia, we are eager to build on previous house-to-house campaign experience that demonstrates how needle-free enables vaccination teams to move quickly and achieve high coverage without the burden of sharps waste management and with reduced vaccine volume and cold chain logistics.”
We look forward to hearing more from PharmaJet about their technology and its applications at the Congress in Barcelona this October. Get your tickets here to join us and don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletters here.
by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Jun 21, 2024 | Global Health |
Sanofi and Biovac announced in June 2024 that they are partnering to produce inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) in Africa. The agreement will enable regional manufacturing of polio vaccines to supply over 40 African countries. The partnership will make Biovac, a South Africa-based biopharmaceutical company, the first African producer of IPV on and for the African continent and supports Africa CDC and the African Union’s goal of producing 60% of vaccines for African produced in Africa by 2040.
Efforts against polio
Sanofi states that it has been a “critical partner” of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) since 1988, having supplied over 1.5 billion doses of IPV through Gavi. For the last 30 years, through the GEPI, 2.5 billion children have been immunised against polio, leading to a 99% reduction in worldwide cases. At the end of 2023 polio was endemic in two countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan). Sanofi will continue to produce most IPV with Biovac, which will hold the marketing authorisation, being responsible for late-stage formulation, filling, packaging, and delivery to UNICEF.
Sanofi’s Executive Vice President, Vaccines, Thomas Triomphe, commented that “for 40 years, Sanofi has supplied billions of polio vaccine doses globally, supporting the world getting close to polio eradication”.
“But with the COVID-19 pandemic, many routine paediatric vaccination programmes were halted or disrupted. Catching up will be key to preventing a rise in cases in many countries worldwide and this Sanofi partnership with Biovac is a step in that direction.”
Triomphe suggested that establishing the manufacturing partnership “ahead of time” is “key to enabling Biovac’s manufacturing capabilities for future international tenders”. Dr Morena Makhoana, Chief Executive Officer of Biovac, is excited by the partnership.
“We are very proud of this partnership with Sanofi, which will empower Biovac as an African manufacturer to champion polio eradication on and for the continent by bringing manufacturing of IPV doses closer to people.”
For more on key international partnerships for disease control, don’t forget to get your tickets to the Congress in Barcelona this October and subscribe to our weekly newsletters here.
by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Apr 24, 2024 | Global Health |
In celebration of World Immunisation Week 2024 (24th-30th April) WHO is urging collective action to ensure that everyone benefits from the life-saving power of vaccines. It also shared an estimate that global immunisation efforts over the past 50 years have saved “at least 154 million lives”. Suggesting that the global vaccine drives of the latter half of the 20th century are “one of humanity’s greatest achievements”, WHO calls on the health community to improve vaccine coverage.
So much achieved
WHO marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in 2024, stating that this celebration recognises “collective efforts to save and improve countless”. However, it calls on countries to “ramp up investments in immunisation programmes, the likes of which have enabled the eradication of smallpox and “nearly” defeated polio.
“In just 5 decades we went from a world where the death of a child was something many parents feared, to a world where every child – if vaccinated – has a chance to survive and thrive.”
When it was established in 1974, the EPI sought to protect children against 6 childhood illnesses. Since then, the number has grown to 13 universally recommended vaccines across the life-course and 17 additional vaccines with context-dependent recommendations. It is now commonly known as the “Essential Programme on Immunisation”.
Pandemic problems
While the wider historical context shows improvement, recent progress has “slipped”, largely due to the pandemic. WHO states that “while more than 4 million more children were vaccinated” across the globe in 2022 compared to 2021, there were still 20 million children who missed “one of more” of their vaccines.
“Growing conflicts, economic downturns, and rise in vaccine hesitancy are some of the threats to efforts to reach these children.”
Consequently, global outbreaks of diphtheria and measles are being observed; these are diseases that were previously “nearly in hand”.
“While global vaccine coverage is good – with 4 out of 5 kids covered – we have more to do.”
WHO’s demands
WHO seeks to bring the power of vaccines to everyone by:
- Advocating for vaccines to be an integral part of the planning and investment of health care across the life course
- Making sure vaccination programmes are adequately financed and resourced in all countries
- Accelerating research and innovation that advances access to, and support for, vaccines
- Speaking out on the impact of vaccinations locally, nationally, and globally
A new study
WHO also shares that a new study in The Lancet reveals that global immunisation efforts have saved an “estimated 154 million lives”. This is equivalent to “6 lives every minute of every year” for the past 50 years. Most of these lives – 101 million – were infants. The study reportedly reveals that “immunisation is the single greatest contribution of any health intervention to ensuring babies not only see their first birthdays but continue leading healthy lives into adulthood”.
The study considers 14 pathogens targeted by EPI (diphtheria Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, measles, meningitis A, pertussis, invasive pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, and yellow fever), looking at coverage of all routine and supplementary vaccines delivered since 1974. Of all the vaccines included, measles vaccinations had the greatest effect on reducing infant mortality, accounting for 60% of lives saved due to immunisation.
“Forecasting suggests that measles vaccination will remain the preeminent intervention that will maximise lives saved well into the future.”
Other findings include the fact that vaccination against the 14 diseases has “directly contributed” to reducing infant deaths by 40% globally and over 50% in the African Region. For each life saved through immunisation, an average of 66 years of full health were gained, with a total of 10.2 billion full health years gained over these five decades. Polio vaccinations have enabled more than 20 million people, who would have otherwise been paralysed, to walk. WHO is hopeful that we are “on the verge of eradicating polio”.
Fighting once-feared diseases
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented on the revelations in the study, remarking that “vaccines are among the most powerful inventions in history, making once-feared diseases preventable”.
“Thanks to vaccines, smallpox has been eradicated, polio is on the brink, and with the more recent development of vaccines against diseases like malaria and cervical cancer, we are pushing back the frontiers of disease.”
The Director-General is optimistic that “continued research, investment, and collaboration” will enable us to save “millions more lives” in the next 50 years.
Other organisations weigh in
UNICEF, one of the largest buyers of vaccines in the world, secures over 2 billion doses of essential vaccines to reach “almost half of the world’s children”. Executive director Catherine Russell is pleased that “more children now survive and thrive past their fifth birthday than at any other point in history”.
“This massive achievement is a credit to the collective efforts of governments, partners, scientists, healthcare workers, civil society, volunteers, and parents themselves, all pulling in the same direction of keeping children safe from deadly diseases.”
Now is the time to “build on the momentum” to ensure that “every child, everywhere, has access to life-saving immunisations”. Also quoted by WHO is Dr Sania Nishtar, who recently assumed post as CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Gavi provides vaccines against 20 infectious diseases and seeks to expand the effects of EPI and help all countries increase coverage.
“Gavi was established to build on the partnership and progress made possible by EPI, intensifying focus on protecting the most vulnerable around the world. In a little over two decades, we have seen incredible progress.”
Dr Nishtar believes that “vaccines are truly the best investment we can make” to protect the right of everyone to a “healthy future”.
Humanly possible
The campaign for 2024’s World Immunisation Week is “humanly possible”, a joint campaign launched by WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This campaign demands that world leaders “advocate, support, and fund” immunisation programmes.
Dr Chris Elias, president of Global Development at the Gates Foundation, is inspired by what vaccines have achieved in the last 50 years.
“We cannot let his incredible progress falter. By continuing to invest immunisation, we can ensure that every child – and every person – has the chance to live a healthy and productive life.”
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by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Mar 11, 2024 | Infection |
In March 2024 the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region announced that Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) is to launch a polio vaccination campaign in April 2024 in response to a “new emergence of variant poliovirus type 2” that was reported in January 2024. The emergence was detected in six wastewater samples collected between September 2023 and January 2024 in the Port Sudan locality, Red Sea State.
The FMOH has been supported by WHO to complete field investigations and a risk assessment to understand the extent of virus circulation. The campaign preparations have begun in Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, River Nile, Northern, White Nile, Blue Nile, and Sennar States. WHO reports that the other states will have a “differentiated approach” as appropriate.
Learning from previous outbreaks
This detection has been reported 14 months after Sudan declared an “unrelated” outbreak of variant poliovirus type 2, detected in a 4-year-old child in West Darfur in October 2022. In response to that outbreak the FMOH worked with UNICEF and WHO to deliver and distribute 10.3 million doses of oral polio vaccine in a March 2023 campaign. Around 8.7 million children under the age of 5 were reached.
Since then, no vaccination campaign has taken place “due to the ongoing conflict”. However, surveillance for poliovirus in children has been “strengthened”. This is conducted by searching for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), the “most common indicator” of polio infection, and wastewater surveillance.
Dr Dalya Eltayeb, Director-General of Primary Health Care in the FMOH, commented that “since the escalation of the conflict”, the FMOH has worked “closely” with WHO and UNICEF to “develop and implement the Polio National Emergency Action Plan”.
“The new detection has only redoubled our commitment to safeguarding our children’s future. In collaboration with partners, we are mobilising an outbreak response campaign to ensure that every child under 5 years in accessible areas receives the polio vaccine, and special plans will follow for hard-to-reach areas.”
Although no child has been paralysed in the new emergence, this detection “puts children across the country at high risk”. Furthermore, the “breakdown in health services” such as routine vaccination “significantly increases” the risk of outbreaks and spread of communicable diseases. Dr Mohammad Taufiq Mashal, Polio and Immunisation Team Lead for WHO Sudan, recognised the remarkable efforts of public health officers.
“Despite extremely challenging conditions, our health workers have managed to sustain surveillance for poliovirus, which has allowed us to detect and respond to this new poliovirus strain in a timely manner.”
Dr Tedla Damte, Chief of Health and Nutrition at UNICEF Sudan, suggested that “the ongoing war is undoing the enormous gains” that have been made on childhood vaccinations.
“Millions of displaced children on the move cannot be protected against life-threatening diseases, like polio, yet these can be prevented through vaccination. Health systems are overstretched, subsequently impacting the delivery of health services including vaccinations.”
Dr Damte emphasised that “UNICEF remains committed to supporting vaccination campaigns to protect children, no matter what”.
The importance of rigorous, sustained surveillance in health systems is an issue that will be explored by some of our experts at the Congress in Washington this April so do join us to participate in the discussion or subscribe here for more updates.
by Charlotte Kilpatrick | Feb 21, 2024 | Infection |
In February 2024 UNICEF announced that Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and other partners, launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign with the novel OPV type two (nOPV2) vaccine after circulating poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV2) was confirmed in Zimbabwe. The campaign will target all children under 10 years old to “interrupt transmission” and prevent further outbreaks.
Polio detected
UNICEF states that “routine environmental surveillance” detected seventeen circulating poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in sewage samples collected in Harare. Additional human cases were identified by the MOHCC through “intensified disease surveillance” in Mashonaland West and Harare Provinces.
Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Honourable Minister of Health and Child Care, commented that the detection of cVDPV2 is a “serious concern”, but one that the country is “prepared to respond” to “swiftly and effectively”.
“This nationwide vaccination campaign demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the health of every child in Zimbabwe.”
nOPV2
The campaign will be implemented in two phases with the intention of reaching around 4 million children each time. UNICEF states that wide coverage will be achieved through a combination of “the usual” vaccination at health facilities with a door-to-door approach. The novel OPV2 vaccine will be used, the first time it is being deployed in Zimbabwe since it was launched by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 2021. However, it has already been used effectively in other countries such as Ethiopia and Nigeria.
GPEI states that nOPV2 has proven to be “as safe to use and effective at stopping outbreaks” as the previous vaccine, mOPV2, but is “more genetically stable”. It is the “tool of choice” for stopping outbreaks. Vaccine development began in 2011 thanks to a consortium led by the Bell & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Public health communication
UNICEF indicates that, to support the vaccination campaign, “large-scale communication activities” are being rolled out to promote information and motivation to get children vaccinated. Social mobilisation campaigns include the use of mass media and interpersonal communication.
MOHCC, UNICEF, and WHO call for:
- All parents and caregivers to bring children under 10 years old to get vaccinated during the campaign
- Healthcare workers to be vigilant in identifying and reporting suspected polio cases
- Community and religious leaders to support communities during the campaign and promote public awareness about polio
For more on the importance of public health communication and encouraging uptake of vaccines, why not join us at the Congress in Washington this April? If you can’t make it do subscribe for more updates and insights.
