Liberia Prepares for Round Two of the Outbreak Response Nationwide Novel Oral Polio Vaccination
By: Sylvester Choloplay
Liberia – May 30, 2024: The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health and partners are preparing for second round of the Outbreak Response Novel Oral Polio vaccine launch.
The second dose of the vaccine follows a first round which targeted approximately 857,768 children nationwide. According to the Ministry of Health, the total of 876,643 was reached, accounting for 102% nationwide coverage.
The vaccination will serve as a crucial step towards eradicating polio in the country, and the exercise is set to take place across all 15 counties. The Ministry said this exercise will commence from the 7th to the 10th of June 2024, targeting children between aged 0-59 months, encompassing the most vulnerable age group.
Ahead of the second dose launch, the Ministry of Health and partners have begun massive preparations, including engagements with stakeholders, and strategic meetings geared towards a successful round two vaccination.
Deployment of hundreds of healthcare workers, mobile vaccination teams, and vaccination sites across the country will begin in the coming days. The campaign will aim to reach every child within the targeted age range, irrespective of their geographical location, status, race, tribe.
However, the Minister of Health, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, expressed her deepest gratitude to donor partners and stakeholders for their continuous cooperation and support that showed successful vaccination of children during first round of the Novel Oral Polio vaccines (n0PV2).
She calls on parents, caregivers, the religious community and every Liberian to join efforts to combat the Polio virus.
The Health Minister admonishes the public to work closely with the vaccination team and desist from rejecting the team.
Dr. Kpoto also emphasized the importance of children being vaccinated; stressing that it will be a gain for Liberia to totally eradicate the polio virus.
