In the heart of Southern Africa, Malawi has taken a daring step in the battle against polio. After reporting its first case of Wild Poliovirus Variety 1 (WPV1) after 30 years in 2022, the country replied with urgency and resolve. By May 2024, thanks to multiple vaccination campaigns, vigilant surveillance and strengthened immunization programs, Malawi was declared polio-free once again. However the wander didn’t stop there.
With the looming threat of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Variety 2 (cVDPV2) from neighboring international locations, Malawi known the have to carry its population’s immunity. Backed by GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance funding and guided by the Malawi Immunization Technical Advisory Community (MAITAG), the Ministry of Health presented the 2nd dose of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV2) into the national immunization time table in December 2024.
This milestone was more than a policy shift—it was a nationwide walk:
-
Over 187,348 eligible kids larger protected from Polio following vaccination with 2nd Dose of IPV as of April 2025
-
17,000 health staff have been trained across all districts.
-
IPV2 was rolled out in every health facility, in conjunction with outreach posts in distant areas.
-
Community engagement efforts flourished, with local leaders and health staff leading sensitization campaigns.
-
Data management instruments and programs have been updated to incorporate the original vaccine
In Karonga District, which borders Tanzania and faces excessive base-border transmission threat, the rollout was seamless. Health staff reported no challenges, and team members welcomed the original dose with initiate arms.
Mr. Kayuni, an area supervisor with over 20 years of ride in immunization programming at some point of the district, mentioned the introduction of IPV2, which aims to enhance protection against the kind 2 poliovirus. He notorious that as a outcome of the anticipated advantages of IPV2, efforts had been increased in team awareness regarding the original dose to decrease vaccine hesitancy for improved coverage.
At the Mlongoti outreach put up, a structure constructed by the team demonstrates their beef up for the health gadget and immunization program. Suzgika Gondwe, a local mother, expressed her understanding that this dose reduces the threat of polio for her baby. Another caregiver, Reward Ngofi, mentioned that she believed in the advantages of the additional dose because the information came from their team health staff. Temwa Kaula supported her team members’ opinions, noting no expected harm beyond typical vaccine side results from the original dose. All three caregivers mentioned the overall importance of vaccines, observing fewer sickness episodes for their kids, decreased hospital visits, and increased time for earnings-generating activities.
This success chronicle just just isn’t correct about a original vaccine—it’s about resilience, have faith, and team-driven health growth. With persisted beef up and vigilance, Malawi just just isn’t entirely conserving its kids today nonetheless also securing a polio-free future for generations to return.
