Harare Launches Major Polio Vaccination Campaign After Malawi Outbreak

A major polio vaccination campaign targeting all children under the age of five is set to begin across Harare next month following confirmation of an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in neighbouring Malawi. The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) said the first round of the nOPV2 supplementary immunisation campaign was conducted between 20 and 23 April 2026. Two additional rounds are now scheduled for 2–5 June and 7–10 July as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent the virus from spreading across the region.

The Harare City Health Department is among several cross-border health authorities participating in the synchronised vaccination campaign, which is also being rolled out in Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana. Health officials warned that the risk of transmission remains high because of frequent travel and trade movements between Southern African countries.

“The risk of potential spread is considered high, especially with frequent travel and connections between Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana,” the Harare City Health Promotion Office said in a statement.

Authorities stressed that every child under five years old, including newborn babies, should receive the nOPV2 vaccine during the campaign regardless of previous vaccination history.

Vaccines will be available through:

• Public clinics and hospitals

• Door-to-door vaccination teams

• Outreach centres

• Community sites including churches and markets

Parents and guardians have been urged to bring children’s health cards or vaccination records when presenting them for immunisation.

Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) is a rare strain of poliovirus that can emerge in areas with low immunisation coverage. Health experts say the virus can cause irreversible paralysis, particularly in young children, and poses serious public health risks if outbreaks are not quickly contained. The MOHCC emphasised that polio remains highly preventable through routine vaccination and supplementary immunisation campaigns.

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of the Harare City Health Promotion Office is coordinating the supplementary immunisation programme. Health officials are encouraging communities to cooperate fully with vaccination teams to ensure maximum coverage and protect children from preventable disease. Zimbabwe previously conducted large-scale polio campaigns in response to outbreaks detected in neighbouring countries as part of regional efforts to maintain Southern Africa’s polio-free status.

Harare polio vaccination campaign