Zambia Launches Nationwide Polio Vaccination Campaign to Protect Children Under Five

On 20 April 2026 Zambia launched a Sub National Immunization Day campaign using the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to reach children under five in six provinces, with about 3.7 million children expected to be reached; an upgraded National Polio Laboratory was handed over to strengthen real-time detection.

Zambia launched a Sub National Immunization Day polio vaccination campaign on 20 April 2026 at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. The campaign uses the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) and targets children under five across six provinces. The launch coincided with the handover of an upgraded National Polio Laboratory to the Government of the Republic of Zambia to strengthen real-time poliovirus detection. Officials reported earlier environmental detections of poliovirus in wastewater and described the campaign as part of a regional response. Key details: - The campaign will cover six provinces: Lusaka, Southern, Eastern, Central, Western and Muchinga. - About 3.7 million children under five are expected to be reached in the initial week of this round. - The campaign will deliver nOPV2, a next-generation oral polio vaccine used in more than 40 countries to respond to outbreaks. - WHO and UNICEF supported procurement and distribution of 4,437,500 vaccine doses to 116 districts and 3,500 health facilities, and helped distribute 3,400 vaccine carriers and 261 cold boxes. - Partners report that 27,400 health workers, supervisors, monitors and community volunteers were trained to support vaccination and surveillance activities. - The campaign launch was coordinated with the handover of an upgraded National Polio Laboratory to enhance detection and response, and follows detections in neighboring countries as part of a regional response. Summary: The campaign is intended to close immunity gaps after poliovirus was detected in environmental samples and to reinforce surveillance through the upgraded laboratory. Two additional vaccination rounds are planned later in the year to extend protection, and partners including the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are supporting logistics and training to carry out the response.