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Government has launched the final round of the Sub-National Immunization Activities polio campaign, targeting to vaccinate 3.9 million children under five and will run from July 21 to July 26, 2026
The campaign is being implemented in partnership with the World Health Organization, Rotary International, United Nations Children Emmergency Fund (UNICEF) and other partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Speaking during the launch in Lusaka, Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa said the campaign follows two earlier vaccination rounds conducted in April and June 2026 and that the campaign was part of a regional outbreak response aimed at strengthening immunity among children under five years of age.
Kangwa said the response was focused on six priority provinces namely Lusaka, Southern, Eastern, Central, Western, Muchinga and these areas were identified for intensified vaccination following the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples.
“This final round is a critical step to ensure that every child is fully protected, and we call on all caregivers to take advantage of this opportunity to close the last remaining immunity gaps,” he said.
Kangwa emphasized that Zambia’s success in protecting children depended on sustained collaboration between Government, cooperating partners, health workers, community leaders, and caregivers.
He noted that while earlier rounds delivered encouraging results, continued efforts remained essential to interrupt poliovirus transmission.
“Across the first two rounds, the campaign covered 6 provinces, 71 districts and 1,985 health facilities. Implementation was supported by 7,830 vaccination teams and 8,006 social mobilizers and supervisors,” Kangwa highlighted.
He stated that the final round was a critical step to ensure that every child was fully protected, and called on all caregivers to take advantage of the opportunity to close the last remaining immunity gaps.
Dr. Clement Peter Lasuba, WHO Representative in Zambia said each round built on the previous one, increasing immunity and reducing the risk of transmission.
Read More: Govt launches round 2 polio vaccination campaign targeting 3.7m children under five
“WHO continues to work closely with the Government and partners to ensure that vaccination reaches every eligible child without exception,” Lasuba said.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Zambia Representative, Saja Farooq Abdullah, said while the rounds were essential to stop poliovirus transmission, lasting protection depends on strong routine immunization systems that continue well beyond the campaign period.
Abdullah noted that caregivers played a critical role, sustaining gains by keeping children up to date with all essential vaccinations provided by routine services.
The launch was also used to inaugurate the solarized National Vaccine Store.
Supported by UNICEF under the Africa CDC Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative, the facility has a newly installed 100-kW solar photovoltaic system to provide reliable power to Zambia’s primary vaccine storage facility.
The solarization project is expected to safeguard vaccine potency and reduce the risk of losses caused by power disruptions.
It will also ensure uninterrupted vaccine storage and generate annual power cost savings of approximately US$48,000.
The polio campaign is supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, including WHO and Rotary International, with generous contributions from partners committed to ending polio in Zambia and the region.
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