Ethiopia’s fourth-round national polio vaccination campaign using the type two novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2) reached over 26 million children across all regions. In 22 zones spanning seven regions—including Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Southern Ethiopia, Harari, Dire Dawa, and Afar—the campaign co-administered nOPV2 with bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) to strengthen population immunity and accelerate the interruption of poliovirus transmission.
The national launch ceremony, held on December 12, 2025, in Hawassa, Sidama Region, was attended by Her Excellency Dr. Mekdes Daba, Health Minister of Ethiopia, Deputy Regional President Mr. Beyene Berasa, Dr. Messay Hailu, Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, and partners from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). H.E. Dr. Mekdes Daba reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to ending polio, highlighting the integration of lifesaving services such as enhanced acute flaccid paralysis surveillance, identification of zero-dose and under-vaccinated children, nutrition screening, growth monitoring, and Marburg surveillance alongside house-to-house vaccination efforts.
Prof. Francis Kasolo, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, commended the government’s leadership and the strategic decision to co-administer bOPV with nOPV2 in priority zones. He noted that this approach not only strengthens immunity against type 2 poliovirus but also enhances Ethiopia’s capacity to prevent the transmission of other poliovirus variants, moving the country closer to eradicating all forms of the virus.
In 2025, Ethiopia completed four nOPV2 vaccination rounds—one nationwide and three sub-national—led by the Ministry of Health and Ethiopian Public Health Institute with support from WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, Gavi, the Gates Foundation, and other partners. These campaigns have been central to closing immunity gaps, interrupting variant poliovirus transmission, and strengthening surveillance systems.
Building on the successes of these campaigns, Ethiopia continues to enhance vaccine-preventable disease monitoring, improve cross-border coordination, and strengthen routine immunization systems to ensure all children are protected. Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners reaffirmed their support, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to secure a polio-free future for Ethiopia and the world.
