The Department of Health Services in Nakonde District of Muchinga Province is optimistic that no child under the age of five will be left behind in the third round of the national polio vaccination campaign.

Nakonde District Health Promotions Officer, Getrude Chipampe, says health teams will move across communities to administer oral polio vaccine to an estimated 70,109 children.

Speaking in an interview with the media today, Ms Chipampe said the campaign is aimed at protecting children from the poliovirus, which can cause irreversible damage if contracted.

“Health officers will be going round giving children below the age of five years polio vaccine to prevent the polio virus,” she said.

She explained that the department will use both door-to-door visits and fixed teams stationed at schools, markets and other public places to reach every eligible child.

The Nakonde District Health Promotions Officer appealed to parents and guardians, particularly mothers, to keep children at home during the campaign period.

Ms Chipampe also addressed concerns from some religious groups that have previously resisted vaccination, urging them to reconsider for the sake of child health.

She further clarified misconceptions about multiple doses, stating that receiving the vaccine during the campaign will not replace routine immunisation.

“Those children that need to get the routine polio vaccination at 9 months will still be required to do so when it is time despite being administered during this campaign.

“Some people would say the concentration of the medicine would be too much in the body but that is not the case, it only strengthens the immune system and makes it hard for the virus to penetrate,” she explained.

Ms Chipampe indicated that the district performed well in the first two rounds despite challenges with one religious community that initially refused the vaccine but later cooperated after intervention by health promotion officers and UNICEF.

She stated that the department has been consistently engaging those that refuse and expressed hope that they will not face similar challenges during the third round.

According to district records, in round one, the target was 55,730 children and 66,440 were vaccinated while in round two the target was 66,440 and 70,109 children were reached.

The campaign commenced yesterday, Tuesday July 21, and will run up to tomorrow, Thursday, July 24, 2026.

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