Liberia Champions Polio Eradication in West Africa

Liberia is one African nation leading a crucial fight against polio. Unfortunately, Liberia recently reported a resurgence of variant polio type 2 in wastewater.

Liberia reported two variant polio type 2 detections from environmental sampling in 2023 and six so far in 2024. 

Although historic polio vaccine coverage rates have shown promising progress, the battle against polio requires unwavering commitment and action, wrote the Global Polio Eradication Initiative on June 4, 2024.

Despite the challenges, the number of variant poliovirus cases in Liberia has significantly declined, with no children paralyzed by polio since 2021.

To stop the spread of the virus quickly, Liberia has launched nationwide immunization campaigns using the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2).

The second round of nOPV2 vaccinations is set to begin on June 7, 2024.

Primarily deployed in Africa during the last two years, the nOPV2 vaccine has been offered over 1 billion times.

Mr. Adolphus Clark, Expanded Programme on Immunization Manager in Liberia, expressed his optimism in a media release about the pending vaccination campaign, stating, “Our collective efforts have brought us closer than ever to a polio-free Liberia.... we are renewing our commitment to ensure that every child is protected from this preventable disease.”

Liberia has also introduced seven vaccines into its routine immunization schedule: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, Rotavirus, Inactive Polio Virus, Haemophilus influenzae Tue B, Typhoid, and measles-containing vaccine. 

To alert international visitors, the U.S. CDC has included Liberia in its recent polio and measles Travel Health Advisories. The CDC suggests travelers speak with a travel vaccine expert about immunization options one month before visiting Liberia.