Yemen is currently experiencing twin outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 and type 2, warned the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPSI).
GPSI issued a statement stating that the two poliovirus strains emerge in populations with low immunity, and both can result in lifelong paralysis and even death.
Since 2019, 35 and 14 children have been paralyzed by type 1 and type 2, respectively, three of the type 2 cases confirmed in the past ten days alone.
The poliovirus type 2 outbreak, in particular, is ongoing and expanding and has already spread to other countries in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region and UNICEF’s Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA).
The Eastern Mediterranean Ministerial Regional Subcommittee on Polio Eradication and Outbreaks issued a statement, expressing deep concern around these expanding outbreaks and requesting all authorities in Yemen to facilitate the resumption of house-to-house vaccination campaigns in all areas.
The Initiative partners strongly recommend high-coverage mass vaccination campaigns to stop polio.
The vaccination response must achieve at least 90 percent of children vaccinated repeatedly with polio vaccine to protect them from polio and prevent seeding new vaccine-derived emergences.
The Polio Outbreak Response Standard Operating Procedures guidelines recommend that the vaccination response to polio outbreaks should be conducted using the house-to-house vaccine delivery strategy to maximize coverage of vulnerable children.
The GPEI urges the Houthi health authorities to conduct high-quality house-to-house vaccination campaigns to stop the two concurrent outbreaks as soon as possible.
If the current conditions in Yemen do not permit house-to-house vaccination, then an intensified fixed-site vaccination campaign with appropriate social mobilization by the community and religious leaders trusted by the local communities should be implemented. It will maximize coverage among all vulnerable children.
Yemeni children face no shortage of threats: prolonged conflict, a devastating healthcare system, hunger, and disease. But polio is one disease that can easily be prevented.
Its circulation can be stopped in the country or elsewhere by vaccinating all children with the oral polio vaccine.
The GPEI partners, WHO, Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, are committed to providing support to all stakeholders in Yemen for responding to the polio outbreaks including in conducting polio vaccination campaigns that can reach all vulnerable children.
Last month, the Yemeni Health Ministry completed a polio vaccination campaign that included more than two million children in 12 governorates under legitimacy control, with an 86 percent rate of the general target.
The ministry hoped to exceed the 90 percent barrier by the first round and announced its readiness to implement a second round a month from now. The militias continue to prevent children from getting vaccinated in areas under their control.
