Government has launched the second round of the Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) campaign targeting over 3.7 million children under the age of five,  as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and protect children’s health.

The campaign comes amid heightened surveillance following the detection of Type-2 poliovirus variant in waste water samples collected in Lusaka District early this year.

The vaccination exercise will run from 2nd to 5th June 2026.

Speaking during the launch in Lusaka today, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination Dr. George Sinyangwe said that following the detection of a Type-2 poliovirus, Zambia remains on high alert.

“This situation calls for strengthened prevention and response measures to ensure that every eligible child is protected through vaccination,” he said. 

Meanwhile, UNICEF Chief Health Atnafu Asfaw noted that polio is a highly infectious disease and one round is not sufficient to stop transmission.

And, World Health Organsation (WHO) Country Representative Clement Lasuba said the second round of vaccination was a reflection of government commitment to achieving the goal of recording no cases of type 2 Poliovirus.