By Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has announced that the third round of its nationwide polio vaccination campaign will be conducted from 7 to 10 July 2026, targeting all children under the age of five regardless of their previous vaccination status.
The campaign follows the completion of the first round in April and the second round in June as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to prevent the spread of poliovirus.
According to the ministry, the exercise forms part of a coordinated regional initiative involving MoHCC and international health partners aimed at eradicating circulating poliovirus variants that have been detected in neighbouring countries.
Health authorities said every child under five years old will receive two oral drops of the vaccine during the campaign. Children who receive the vaccine will have their left small finger marked with indelible ink, a measure used to indicate that they have been vaccinated and to assist monitoring and evaluation teams assessing the campaign’s coverage.
The ministry said health workers will administer the vaccine through door-to-door visits and at designated outreach points, including clinics, schools, markets, shopping centres and other locations where eligible children can be found.
Health officials emphasized that the vaccine is safe and remains one of the most effective tools in preventing polio, a highly infectious disease that can cause lifelong paralysis and, in severe cases, death.
Parents and guardians have been urged to ensure that all eligible children receive the vaccine during the four-day campaign, including those who missed the first and second rounds.
“The vaccination campaign is targeting all children under five years of age, regardless of their previous vaccination status,” the ministry said, encouraging communities to cooperate with health workers during the exercise.
Zimbabwe has remained vigilant against polio outbreaks as countries in the region continue efforts to eliminate the disease and prevent cross-border transmission of poliovirus variants. Health authorities say achieving high vaccination coverage is critical to protecting children and maintaining the country’s progress towards a polio-free future.