4 Million Children Receiving New Polio Vaccine

According to the AP, Zimbabwe has initiated a polio vaccination campaign to protect over four million children after identifying three polio cases caused by a rare mutation of the weakened virus found in an older version of the oral vaccine.

On February 20, 2024, the authorities confirmed they would use the type 2 novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) polio vaccine designed to minimize virus mutations and reduce polio outbreaks.

Zimbabwe aims to provide this vaccine to approximately 4 million children in February and March 2024.

About 1.4 billion nOPV2 doses have been produced since March 2021. 

Since its launch, approximately 1 billion nOPV2 doses have been administered in more than 35 countries worldwide.

As of February 2024, the nOPV2 has not been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, the U.S. CDC's vaccine committee is reviewing its use case on February 28, 2024.

Zimbabwe is one of 31 countries the CDC lists in its January 2024 global polio outbreak travel alert.