Polio vaccination campaigns across Africa are being accelerated to prevent the resurgence of the disease, following significant progress in eliminating wild poliovirus from the continent. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Africa free of wild polio, a historic achievement after decades of intensive vaccination efforts. However, challenges remain with vaccine-derived polio strains, especially in conflict zones and areas with low immunization coverage.
In response, African governments, in partnership with international organizations like WHO, UNICEF, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), have launched urgent vaccination drives to ensure that every child under five receives the polio vaccine. These campaigns focus on high-risk areas, where vaccination rates have been historically low due to logistical challenges or political instability.
The ongoing campaigns include door-to-door vaccination drives, mass immunization days, and targeted efforts in refugee camps and remote villages. Health officials are also focusing on raising awareness to combat vaccine hesitancy and misinformation about polio vaccines. In countries like Nigeria, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where outbreaks of vaccine-derived polio have been reported, these intensified measures are crucial to maintaining progress and preventing further spread.
Although the risk of wild poliovirus transmission has been eradicated, health experts warn that vaccine-derived polio strains, which occur in areas with low vaccination coverage, remain a significant threat. The rapid response through vaccination is seen as essential to safeguarding Africa’s hard-won polio-free status.
These efforts are part of a broader initiative to strengthen health systems and ensure that Africa is equipped to handle future health challenges. While the road to complete polio eradication is still ongoing, the continent’s progress provides hope for a polio-free future.
