The Democratic Republic of the Congo began the second phase of a mass polio vaccination campaign Thursday, targeting over 10 million children.
Health authorities aim to curb the spread of circulating variant poliovirus types 1 and 2, which caused 25 confirmed cases in 2024 alone.
From June 26 to 28, children under five will receive vaccines in six provinces, while those up to 15 will be covered in two others.
The World Health Organization warned that type 2 poliovirus continues to circulate in several areas, endangering vulnerable populations.
“To interrupt transmission and protect children, there is an urgent need to boost immunity,” the WHO said in a statement.
A total of 13 million vaccine doses will be administered by 60,000 mobile vaccination teams across the country.
“When children are under-vaccinated, they suffer most,” said Elisabeth Mukamba, who coordinates the Polio Emergency Operations Committee in DR Congo.
She stressed that strong immunity in one child can help shield many others from the virus’s devastating effects.
Mukamba said the country is progressing in its fight against polio but warned against lowering guard too soon.
Officials called on parents, local leaders, and health workers to collaborate and expand vaccine coverage nationwide.
Global health experts say polio cases have dropped by over 99.9% since 1988, yet challenges persist.
Wild poliovirus type 1 remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while vaccine-derived outbreaks continue across Africa and the Middle East.
Countries including Nigeria, Yemen, South Sudan, and Ethiopia have reported increased cases in 2024 and 2025, according to WHO data.
Polio, a crippling and highly infectious disease, spreads through contaminated feces and saliva, striking mainly children under five.