2021 anti-polio vaccination campaign kicks off for Egyptian, foreign children nationwide

CAIRO – 28 February 2021: Egypt’s Ministry of Health launched on Sunday a national vaccination campaign against polio nationwide for Egyptian and non-Egyptian children, who are one day to 5 years old.

The campaign will last until March 3, 2021 and aims to target 16.7 million child for free.

The campaign is carried out annually to keep Egypt free of disease, within the framework of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's vision to promote public health and achieve sustainable development goals.

The vaccination will be given in health offices, units, health centers, major squares, train and subway stations, and near mosques, churches, clubs, markets, bus and car stops.

In the villages, medical personnel will go to homes to reach all children, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Cairo time).

Last year, the Ministry of Health 2020 campaign targeted 16.5 million Egyptian and foreign children.

Many countries have succeeded in eradicating the disease by vaccinating children under five years old. Egypt joined the list in 2006 with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF declaring that it was polio-free after the last case was discovered in 2004.

This was due to the extensive vaccination coverage in all the governorates of Egypt through seven doses within the schedule of routine immunizations and the additional doses through periodic national campaigns.

The global strategy in polio eradication recommends introducing an additional dose via injection to the dose of oral vaccination in the fourth month, the remaining six doses to remain oral.