Sudan launches polio vaccination campaign to protect 11 million children amid conflict

27 October 2026, Khartoum, Sudan – Amid ongoing conflict, the Federal Ministry of Health of Sudan, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners, is implementing a nationwide polio vaccination campaign, to provide novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to around 11 million children in October and November 2026.

The campaign is being conducted to interrupt the transmission of variant poliovirus, which began circulating in December 2024. It aims to boost immunity among children with limited access to health services due to the conflict, which began in 2023, and the resulting disruption to the health system. In 2026, Sudan has confirmed poliovirus in six children and in three wastewater samples.

The first round of the campaign will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, running from 26 to 29 October, targets 6 million children in 107 localities across 12 states. A further 5 million children will be targeted in 79 localities across the five Darfur states and West Kordofan during the first week of November.

“This mass vaccination campaign aims to boost every child’s immunity against poliovirus to protect them from an ongoing outbreak,” said Sudan’s Federal Minister of Health H.E. Dr Heitham Mohammed Ibrahim. “The success of the campaign depends on the concerted efforts of health workers, volunteers and the community. I commend the dedication of our health workers for their commitment to reach every household despite the insecurity and access challenges, call on the community to use this opportunity to get their children vaccinated.”

WHO and UNICEF will support the Ministry of Health in implementing the campaign, contributing to efforts to reach children across the country and strengthen the response to the polio outbreak.

“In a country where conflict has disrupted essential health services and left many children without routine vaccinations, protecting children from polio is more urgent than ever,” said WHO Representative to Sudan, Dr Abdinasir Abubakar. “WHO remains committed to work with health authorities and support Sudan’s health workers and communities to reach every child, including those in the most hard-to-reach areas, and interrupt the spread of the virus.”

Years of conflict have disrupted public health services, including routine immunization, leaving children increasingly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. To prevent further spread, it is critical that vaccination campaigns reach children who may have missed routine doses.

“No child in Sudan should suffer from a disease that can be prevented through vaccination,” said Angela Kearney, UNICEF Acting Representative in Sudan. “This campaign gives us an important opportunity to protect millions of children against polio, including those most vulnerable because of the ongoing conflict. Together with health workers, communities and our partners, we must do everything we can to reach every eligible child.”

Vaccination efforts are being coordinated with neighbouring countries to stop the international spread of poliovirus. Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan are also implementing polio vaccination campaigns in October and November, which will help reach populations moving across the borders between the four countries. Transit point vaccinators stationed along Sudan’s borders will also vaccinate children from mobile populations. 

Notes to editors:

• Target population: 11 million children
  o    6 million children aged 0-59 months.
  o    5 million children aged 0 months to under 10 years (age group extended         due to older children who have lower immunity in Darfur states). 
• Date and geographical coverage: 186 localities in 18 states
  o    26-29 October 2026: 107 localities in 12 states in phase 1 of round 1.
  o    First week of November 2026: 79 localities in 6 states in phase 2 of round 1.
• A second round nationwide vaccination campaign is also planned, approximately a month after the first round of the campaign.  
• In localities bordering South Sudan – in South Kordofan, Sennar, White Nile and Blue Nile states – vaccinators will provide both nOPV2 and bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) to protect children from the risk of importation of an ongoing type 1 variant poliovirus outbreak in South Sudan.