polio vaccination campaign launched in seven Burkina Faso regions

Health authorities in Burkina Faso, in partnership with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), have initiated a nationwide polio vaccination drive across seven regions. The campaign, running from September 18 to 21, aims to immunize over 2 million children under five years old.

The initiative follows the detection of a poliovirus case in January 2020 in the Ouargaye health district. A targeted vaccination response was conducted in the Centre-Est region before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted routine immunization services. The suspension of vaccination campaigns during the pandemic contributed to a rise in polio cases and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

impact of covid-19 on vaccination efforts

James Mugaju, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Burkina Faso, highlighted the challenges: « The Covid-19 pandemic forced a temporary halt to vaccination campaigns, leading to gaps in immunization coverage and an increase in polio cases. » In June 2020, health surveillance systems identified nine new polio cases and over 600 instances of acute flaccid paralysis—a condition potentially linked to polio.

comprehensive vaccination strategy

To ensure broad coverage, more than 5,000 health workers and mobilizers will conduct door-to-door visits across the targeted regions. Each child aged 0 to 59 months will receive the polio vaccine. UNICEF has provided 2.29 million vaccine doses and distributed 39,500 masks and 26,500 bottles of hand sanitizer to ensure safety amid the pandemic.

The campaign emphasizes community engagement, urging local leaders, parents, and stakeholders to support vaccination teams. UNICEF and WHO stress the urgency of eradicating polio, especially as healthcare access is further strained by insecurity and the pandemic.

polio: a persistent health threat

Polio is a highly contagious viral infection primarily affecting children, spreading through contaminated water or food. While Burkina Faso was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2015, it remains one of 15 countries in the African region grappling with outbreaks linked to vaccine-derived poliovirus.

A second round of vaccination is scheduled for early October 2020, targeting nine regions: Plateau Central, Centre, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Centre-Est, Sahel, and Nord.