Zambia has officially launched the second round of its national polio vaccination campaign, aiming to inoculate 3,759,057 children under the age of five across six provinces identified as high-risk for poliovirus transmission. The campaign, which commenced on June 2, 2026, and will conclude on June 5, 2026, targets Lusaka, Central, Muchinga, Western, Southern, and Eastern Provinces.

Dr. George Sinyangwe, Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination at the Ministry of Health, inaugurated the campaign at the Ministry of Health Headquarters Global Fund Board Room. The launch follows the detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type-2 from a wastewater sample collected in Lusaka District earlier this year, prompting an urgent public health response.

Under the theme ‘Every Child Vaccinated, Every Community Protected,’ Dr. Sinyangwe strongly urged all parents and guardians to ensure their children under five receive the polio vaccine during this period, irrespective of their prior vaccination status. He emphasized that while no clinical cases of paralysis have been reported, the government, in collaboration with its partners, has initiated emergency surveillance and vaccination drives to effectively contain any potential community transmission.

Furthermore, Dr. Sinyangwe called upon all key stakeholders, including cooperating partners, the media, civic leaders, community-based organizations, and the private sector, to continue their robust support for this crucial second round of the campaign. He reiterated that collective action and strong community engagement are paramount to ensuring that every child is reached and protected.

The government, under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership, remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding public health and maintaining Zambia’s wild polio-free status. The Ministry of Health, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Zambia National Public Health Institute, and other cooperating partners, is actively supporting the campaign, with dedicated health workers and community volunteers conducting door-to-door vaccinations to maximize coverage.

This second round builds upon the success of the first round, which was conducted in April 2026 and achieved an impressive administrative coverage of 102 percent, vaccinating 3,841,940 children across the targeted provinces.