5 million Yemeni children set to be vaccinated against polio
WHEN: Starting 23 October
WHERE:All 23 governorates of Yemen
WHO: 5.3 million children under the age of 5
WHAT: Polio vaccination and screening for malnutrition
The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the World Bank are working together to support the local health authorities in preparing for and conducting a polio vaccination campaign targeting 5.3 million Yemeni children under 5 years of age. Scheduled to start on 23 October, the campaign aims to reach children under the age of 5 in all of the country’s 23 governorates.
In addition to receiving polio vaccines, children will also be screened for severe and moderate malnutrition (measuring middle-upper-arm circumference or MUAC). Malnourished children will be referred and cared for in therapeutic feeding centres.
Vaccines, finger markers and other necessary supplies are in the process of being distributed to all 23 governorates. In addition, WHO and UNICEF are supporting the running costs required to carry out the campaign, and funds have already been channelled to the different governorates.
This will be the second round of National Immunization Days (NIDs) conducted in Yemen in 2017. Despite the challenges of operating in a country facing conflict, including the complexities of accessing areas facing insecurity, 4.78 million children were vaccinated against polio in 23 governorates in February 2017.
