Featured Stories
Outbreak Response
Pakistan conducted a typhoid vaccination campaign May 13-25, targeting 9.8 million children ages 9 months to 15 years. Focused on Karachi and Hyderabad, the school-based effort was prompted by extensively drug-resistant typhoid cases reported in the cities over the past year. Pakistan Observer; Dawn
Angola ran the first round of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign May 17-19, targeting 5.5 million children under 5. According to WHO, the push came in response to cVDPV2 identified in wastewater samples in Huambo, Luanda and Lunda Norte provinces. The campaign vaccinated children door to door and at fixed and mobile vaccination sites. In Lunda-Sul province, approximately 600 personnel were deployed to reach more than 113,000 children, achieving a 97% coverage rate. Angola Press Agency (1); Angola Press Agency (2); WHO AFRO
Niger launched an anti-meningitis campaign in its capital city on May 2. The effort targeted 900,000 people ages 1-19, deploying 860,040 doses of the new Men5CV vaccine and 40,000 doses of ceftriaxone. In April, neighboring Nigeria became the first country globally to roll out the five-strain jab. WHO Weekly Bulletin; Africa News
United Arab Emirates on May 28 launched a three-week campaign in Abu Dhabi against measles, mumps and rubella. Targeting all children ages 1-5 (regardless of immunization history), the campaign will provide MMR doses at 58 health centers in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. The National News; Abu Dhabi Public Health Center
Integrated Campaigns
Several regions of Pakistan carried out measles-rubella and related vaccination campaigns in May. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ran a broad EPI exercise May 13-25 at both fixed and mobile sites, aiming to boost vaccination rates for 12 preventable diseases, with a particular focus on measles. Matiari targeted more than 62,000 children under 5 with MR vaccine in a May 20-25 push comprising 108 vaccination teams. In addition, the Sanghar district of Sindh province conducted an MR vaccination campaign from May 20-25, targeting 236,000 children under age 5 across four subdivisions. Urdu Point (1); Urdu Point (2); Urdu Point (3)
Local Campaigns
Brazil launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign on May 27. Targeting about 13 million children under age 5, the exercise—running through June 14—includes a designated “D day” on Saturday, June 8, when basic health units will be open and providing doses. Radio Agência; Brazil MOH
Nigeria launched the second phase of a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign on May 27. Covering 21 states not included in October’s first phase, the five-day push aimed to reach more than 7.7 million girls ages 9-14. Among the states covered were Anambra (where 476,664 girls were targeted), Borno (targeting 447,126 girls), Ekiti (300,000 girls), Kogi (over 288,000), Kwara (311,000), Niger (500,000), Oyo (639,049), Rivers (more than 1 million) and Yobe (350,000). The campaign was part of Nigeria’s introduction of the HPV jab into its routine immunization program. The Times; Voice of Nigeria; Vanguard; Peoples Gazette; Prompt News
Nepal launched an IPV campaign on May 26. Running through June 8, the exercise targets over 1.4 million school-age children, born between April 2016 and October 2018, who missed out on IPV doses due to a vaccine shortage. Supporting the campaign: some 40,295 health workers, 8,590 volunteers and 5,188 vaccination centers. The Kathmandu Post; My Republica
Laos conducted a measles-rubella vaccination campaign from May 20-31, targeting more than 650,000 children under 5. The vaccine was provided at local dispensaries, district and provincial hospitals, and other designated facilities. Gavi; The Star
Gambia ran a 10-day MDA against schistosomiasis in May. The initiative targeted 600,000 people in three cohorts—children age 2 to under age 5, children 5-14, and at-risk adults—across 27 districts. The Voice; The Point
Yemen reached 4,322 children in a measles vaccination campaign that ran April 29-May 4. Supported by the Saudi-based King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the effort focused on the governates of Hajjah and Saada. Riyadh Daily