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Malawi vaccinates a new generation of children against polio, which still hasn’t been eradicated
Malawi uses a novel oral vaccine to deliver 1.7 million doses targeting children under five in eight districts to halt a circulating vaccine-derived Type 2 poliovirus outbreak.
- On Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, Malawi launched a vaccination campaign in Blantyre using the novel oral polio vaccine, delivering 1.7 million doses at schools and door-to-door targeting eight districts.
- Detection of vaccine-derived Type 2 in sewage samples in Blantyre last month triggered a WHO-required outbreak declaration in Malawi.
- Health workers, mainly women, visited schools and homes with small cooler boxes, while motorbikes extended outreach, and officials held open-air events, where Dr. Akosua Sika Ayisi said, "Polio remains a threat."
- Officials stress vaccination because polio has no cure and causes paralysis risk—around one in 200 cases—urging protection of every eligible child in every community under 15 years.
- In recent years, vaccine-derived polio cases have overtaken wild-virus cases despite a wild poliovirus decline of more than 99% since 1988, with WHO reporting 38 natural cases and 151 vaccine-derived cases in 2025.
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Associated Press News+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
Malawi vaccinates a new generation of children against polio, which still hasn't been eradicated
The southern African nation of Malawi has launched a new polio vaccination campaign this week in another reminder that the world still hasn’t managed to eradicate the disease despite a concerted effort for more than 35 years.
·United States
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Total News Sources9
Leaning Left7Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution78% Left
Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources lean Left
78% Left
L 78%
C 22%
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