Together for Every Child: Malawi's Journey Toward a Polio-Free Future
Malawi has successfully conducted a nationwide polio vaccination campaign following the detection of a vaccine-derived virus in 2026. The initiative reached over 7 million children through the collaboration of the Ministry of Health, WHO, and local community volunteers.
Why it matters
The campaign demonstrates the effectiveness of international public health partnerships in managing outbreaks in remote and challenging geographic regions.
Following the detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in environmental surveillance samples in Blantyre, and its subsequent confirmation among children in the community, Malawi rapidly activated a comprehensive outbreak response. The Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and partners, launched a nationwide response with one clear objective: protect every child and stop the virus before it spreads. WHO provided critical technical and operational support, including campaign planning, coordination, health worker training, monitoring, and data management. Independent Lot Quality Assurance Surveys (LQAS) consistently confirmed high campaign quality and strong vaccination coverage. The response began with a targeted Round Zero campaign in eight high-risk districts in the Southern Region, reaching more than 1.53 million children under 10 years surpassing the campaign target.
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