Sudan launches nationwide poliovaccination campaign amid conflict
Sudan is running a nationwide poliovaccination campaign despite the ongoing conflict. The goal is to protect about 11 million children with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in October and November 2026. The Federal Ministry of Health is leading the campaign, with support from WHO, UNICEF and partners.
To reach this goal, the first round issplit into two phases. From 26 to 29 October, health teams targeted about 6 million children aged 0–59 months in 107 localities across 12 states. In early November, the second phase will reach about 5 million children in 79 localities in the five Darfur states and West Kordofan. In these areas, the target age group is wider, from 0 months to under 10 years, because older children have lower immunity. In total, the campaign covers 186 localities in 18 states, and another national round is planned about one month later.
A UNICEF-supported health worker administers an oral polio vaccine to a child during a vaccination campaign
in Sudan. Photo: UNICEF, 2026.
The campaign is urgent because a variantpoliovirus began circulating in December 2024. The conflict has damaged health services and disrupted routine immunization, so many children are not protected. Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, the WHO Representative in Sudan, said that protecting children from polio is more urgent than ever.
This is not the first effort this year.In April 2026, health teams planned to vaccinate more than 4.3 million children under five in seven states, in Sudan’s first major polio campaign of the year. UNICEF said the conflict had left about 1.5 million young children not fully protected against vaccine- preventable diseases. Polio is highly infectious and can cause permanent paralysis or death, but it can be fully prevented by vaccination.
Because the virus does not stop atborders, Sudan is working with Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan, where similar campaigns are also underway. Teams at border transit points will reach mobile
populations. Near South Sudan, teams use both nOPV2 and bOPV because there is a type 1 outbreak across the border.
To make the campaign work, UNICEF’sActing Representative in Sudan, Angela Kearney, urged health workers, communities and partners to reach every eligible child, including those in conflict-affected and hard-to-reach areas.
More information:
UNICEFSudan, 28 October 2026: https://www.unicef.org/sudan/press-releases/sudan-launches-polio-vaccination-campaign-protect-11-million-children-amid-conflict
UNICEF Sudan, 28 April 2026: https://www.unicef.org/sudan/press-releases/sudans-federal-ministry-health-leads-polio-vaccination-campaign-protect-over-43
update 04Nov2026