Polio Vaccination Campaign.

Luanda, September 2025 – In one of the largest vaccination campaigns in recent years, Angola mobilized health professionals from all over the national territory and managed to vaccinate more than 6 million children under five years of age against polio. The action was held between the 15th and 17th of August.

The campaign involved door-to-door vaccination, at fixed posts, mobile units, and community spaces such as churches, schools, markets, and squares. The aim is to ensure that no child is left out. This campaign is critical to keeping Angola polio-free and avoiding any risk of reintroduction of the virus.

Vaccination was accompanied by door-to-door awareness-raising actions, with community agents explaining the importance of immunization and combating vaccine hesitancy in some rural and peri-urban areas.

The campaign was made possible by the joint action of the Government with international partners, the WHO and UNICEF, who provided technical support and logistical material, while KSrelief, GAVI, and the Gates Foundation secured funding for the acquisition of vaccines and cold chain equipment. In addition, all-terrain vehicles, boats, and motorbikes have been used to reach remote communities and hard-to-reach areas, particularly in the inland provinces.

"Vaccinating is an act of love and responsibility" Said our Minister Sílvia Lutucuta, during the vaccination campaign 

The second phase of the campaign is scheduled for September 5-7, 2025, with the aim of strengthening vaccine protection and interrupting any possible residual viral transmission chain. According to health authorities, Angola will continue to maintain active surveillance through the analysis of environmental samples, monitoring of cases of acute flaccid paralysis, and verification of vaccination coverage in communities.

"The polio vaccination campaign that the Angolan government is leading is critical to controlling the polio outbreak. All of us together must work to raise awareness among our families and communities of the need to vaccinate all children," said the World Health Organization 

Angola remains determined to maintain its status as a country free of wild polio. However, cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus warn of the need to maintain high rates of vaccination coverage and constant surveillance. The eradication of polio is a global responsibility. The vaccination of every child is a decisive step to protect not only Angola, but also the entire African region, said the WHO representative in Angola.