Algiers – In an unprecedented move, the Algerian Ministry of Health has announced a comprehensive door-to-door strategy to ensure nationwide polio vaccination coverage. This initiative, outlined in Directive No. 35 dated December 16, 2025, aims to eradicate polio through targeted vaccination efforts.
The campaign, utilizing the nVPO2 vaccine, is scheduled to run from December 21st to December 27th, 2025. This follows the successful completion of the first phase of national polio vaccination days, which achieved a 95% national coverage rate. The Ministry aims to build upon this foundation and achieve even greater protection against this debilitating disease.
The legal framework for this initiative is rooted in several regulatory texts, including Decree No. 31 which approves the National Polio Vaccination Days, Instruction No. 33 concerning enhanced surveillance during the vaccination period, Instruction No. 12 defining the objectives of the national polio monitoring program, and Instruction No. 25 outlining procedures for reporting adverse events following immunization.
The second phase of the National Polio Vaccination Days will replicate the methods and procedures employed in the first phase, with the possibility of extending the campaign duration based on implementation conditions. This flexible approach ensures that all eligible children have access to the vaccine.
The target population includes all children between the ages of two months and five years, regardless of their prior vaccination status. This inclusive approach aims to provide complete protection against polio. The vaccination strategy involves both fixed and mobile vaccination units. Vaccinated children will have their fingers marked, and all vaccinations will be meticulously recorded to ensure accurate tracking and monitoring of the campaign’s progress.
