ZNPHI Targets 3 Million Children in Phase Two Polio Vaccination Drive

The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) is preparing to vaccinate more than three million children against polio under the second phase of its national immunisation campaign, set to begin on 2 June 2026.

The exercise will cover six provinces, including Lusaka, Central, Southern, Muchinga, Western and Eastern as health authorities work to close immunity gaps and prevent further transmission of the virus.

ZNPHI Public Health Specialist Deborah Tembo said the campaign is a direct response to the most recent detection of poliovirus in the environment, identified in Lusaka in February 2026. Environmental surveillance has become an increasingly important early-warning tool for public health authorities, allowing them to act before clinical cases emerge in the community.

Ms Tembo confirmed that vaccines and supporting materials for phase two have already begun arriving in districts across the targeted provinces, with distribution logistics now underway ahead of the rollout.

The phase-two campaign builds on earlier vaccination rounds and reflects Zambia's continued alignment with World Health Organisation and African regional commitments to eradicate polio. Reaching three million children in a single phase will require a coordinated effort across health workers, traditional leaders, schools and community mobilisers, particularly in rural districts where access remains a challenge.

Parents and caregivers are being encouraged to ensure their children participate, regardless of previous immunisation status, as repeat doses are critical to building population-level protection and stopping transmission.