The Democratic Republic of the Congo has embarked on the second phase of a mass polio vaccination drive, aiming to immunise over 10 million children between 26 and 28 June.
The campaign, covering multiple provinces including Kinshasa, Tshopo, and Haut-Katanga, comes in response to 25 confirmed cases of circulating variant poliovirus types 1 and 2 in 2024. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), transmission of type 2 poliovirus continues to threaten vulnerable populations despite ongoing response measures. To bolster immunity, health authorities will deploy 60,000 vaccination teams to administer 13 million doses, targeting children under five and, in some provinces, those up to 15 years old.
Elisabeth Mukamba, coordinator of the Polio Emergency Operations Committee, emphasised the risks of under-vaccination, which can lead to paralysis in affected children. She urged coordinated efforts among parents, community leaders, and health stakeholders to ensure comprehensive coverage and eradicate the virus. The WHO warned against complacency and stressed that strong routine immunisation and mass campaigns are essential to ending transmission. Although wild poliovirus remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, vaccine-derived outbreaks persist in parts of Africa and the Middle East, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Yemen, and South Sudan—underscoring the global importance of sustained vigilance and commitment to eradication.