SECOND ROUND OF THE ORAL POLIO VACCINATION (nOPV2) CAMPAIGN

The Ministry of Health informs members of the public that together with its stakeholders, it will conduct the second round of the national Oral Polio Vaccination (nOPV2) Campaign in all districts in Botswana from the 27th to 30th March 2023. This campaign will be targeting all children aged 7 years and below, who were vaccinated in the first round, last month. The campaign also targets those who missed the first round. Vaccination will be conducted in households, health facilities, schools and other areas where children can be found.

As previously communicated, this campaign is a public health response to the detection of the circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) in some sewage plants in Botswana. The Polio vaccine will help prevent the spread of this virus to children, who are the vulnerable population.

The public is further informed that vaccinators wearing branded hats and reflector vests bearing the Polio campaign logo, will be administering the vaccine to all eligible children.

The ministry encourages all parents and caregivers to ensure that all children in this age group are vaccinated.

For more information, please contact the nearest health facility or call 3632500. Alternatively, one can also visit the Ministry of Health Facebook page, where information about this campaign will be regularly shared.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully

Dr Christopher Nyanga
For Permanent Secretary