Algiers, November 30, 2025 – A nationwide polio vaccination campaign is underway, aiming to protect Algerian children from the debilitating and potentially fatal disease. Health officials are urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.
Dr. Amal Ait Amir, Head of Preventive Medicine at Ibn Ziri Hospital in Algiers, emphasized the critical importance of the campaign. “Our primary goal is to shield children from the devastating effects of polio, a disease that can be extremely dangerous and even lead to death,” she stated.
Speaking on the sidelines of the campaign’s launch, Dr. Ait Amir explained the nature of the virus. “This is a highly contagious, newly mutated strain that spreads through contaminated water and oral contact. The virus enters the intestines and rapidly multiplies,” she warned.
She further detailed the progression of the disease within the body. “The virus attacks the nervous system, damaging cells and leading to paralysis. This paralysis isn’t limited to the legs; it can affect the respiratory muscles, posing a life-threatening risk,” Dr. Ait Amir explained.
The preventive medicine specialist strongly urged parents to visit health centers and vaccinate their children, particularly those between the ages of two months and five years. This age group is considered the most vulnerable to polio infection.
The national polio vaccination campaign was officially launched today by Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Ait Mesoudan, at the Public Health Establishment in El Anasser-Kouba, Algiers. The campaign aims to vaccinate 4,425,502 children aged between two months and 59 months (just under five years) across 274 public health facilities. The Ministry of Health hopes to eradicate this dangerous virus through nationwide vaccination.
