Ministry Launches Urgent Polio Vaccination Drive Amid New Outbreak
Parents in affected districts are encouraged to cooperate with health teams to achieve high coverage and prevent further cases
Lilongwe, Malawi — The Ministry of Health and Sanitation will roll out the first round of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign starting Wednesday, February 11 through Saturday, February 14, targeting all children under 10 in eight southern districts—Blantyre, Mwanza, Neno, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Thyolo, Zomba, and Chiradzulu—following the declaration of a polio outbreak after virus detection in environmental samples and a confirmed case in a young child, according to Secretary for Health Dr. Dan Namarika, write Wendi Mkandawire and Winston Mwale.
In a pressing response to the resurgence of polio in Malawi, health officials are mobilizing a comprehensive vaccination effort to curb the spread of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).
The outbreak was officially declared after two environmental samples from Blantyre’s sewerage plants tested positive, coupled with a confirmed case in a seven-year-old child from Makhetha who was hospitalized at Mercy James Pediatric Hospital in Blantyre.
This marks a concerning setback, as Malawi had been declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in May 2024, following a previous outbreak in 2022 that prompted multi-country immunization drives.
The initial phase of the campaign focuses on the southern region, where the virus was detected, with health workers conducting door-to-door visits, administering vaccines at government and Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) facilities, and setting up special vaccination sites.
All participating children will receive oral polio drops and have their little finger marked with indelible ink to track coverage.
The exercise runs daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and officials emphasize that the vaccine is safe, free, and essential regardless of prior immunization status.
Subsequent rounds are planned nationwide in March and April to ensure broader protection.
Dr. Namarika, in the ministry’s press release dated February 9, outlined multiple strategies to combat the virus: the targeted vaccination campaigns, adherence to routine immunization schedules (including doses at birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, and 9 months), and prompt medical attention for children under 15 showing sudden paralysis or limb weakness without obvious cause.
“Let us control the spread of the polio virus by getting all children less than 10 years old vaccinated during this campaign,” he urged, inviting parents to bring their children forward. “Together we can stop Polio.”
This initiative echoes past efforts, such as the 2022 response that vaccinated millions across Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia with support from UNICEF and WHO.
Health experts warn that polio, which can lead to permanent disability or death, spreads through contaminated water or food, making community vigilance crucial.
Parents in affected districts are encouraged to cooperate with health teams to achieve high coverage and prevent further cases