Polio Vaccination Campaign Starts in Earnest

Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, on May 5, launched the nationwide oral polio vaccination campaign targeting 0 to 59 months children or under-fives.

The campaign launched at Oodi Clinic by Minister Ketlhalefile Motshegwa is a public health response to the circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus detected in neighbouring countries through environmental surveillance.

The exercise aims to strengthen population immunity as well as to prevent potential spread among vulnerable children.

Minister Motshegwa highlighted the importance of responding swiftly to the campaign, stating that it was not a distant threat, but a regional reality that demanded immediate, coordinated and decisive action, hence the country’s decision to conduct a National Oral Polio Vaccination campaign.

The campaign is implemented in two phases:
First round – May 5 to 8.
Second round – June 8 to 11.