Africa-Press – Namibia. Adolf Kaure
Round 3 of the National Polio Vaccination Campaign will take place from 20 to 23 April, during a recent address in Windhoek.
With Namibia having achieved 90% coverage in Round 2 of the vaccination campaign, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) still deems it essential for children to receive a third dose of the vaccination.
“The poliovirus naturally mutates over time because it is allowed to circulate in communities with low immunity. It only survives because it finds unvaccinated, or under-vaccinated, children to host it,” health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said.
The minister highlighted the importance of closing the 10% gap.
“While 90% coverage is commendable, in public health, a 10% gap is a wide-open door for a highly infectious disease. Think of this virus like a smouldering ember after a massive bushfire.
Rounds 1 and 2 poured heavy water on the flames.”
Multiple doses of the vaccine reinforce a protective shield, strengthening the child’s immunity and not causing harm.
“In an outbreak response, we do not vaccinate until we are tired; we vaccinate until the virus has nowhere left to hide. Whether a Round 4 will be necessary depends entirely on our surveillance data. But make no mistake, we will do whatever it takes to protect our children,” Luvindao noted.
She made an appeal to all parents, grandparents, and carers: “Please bring your children forward to be vaccinated.”
For nearly two decades, Namibia has stood as a beacon of success in the global fight against polio; however, the country’s polio-free legacy remains under direct threat.
“Our surveillance systems have now detected the exact same poliovirus in sewage samples from Windhoek and Gobabis. These new detections far from the initial site prove that the virus is actively circulating within our borders. Under the strict definitions of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, this geographic spread demands that we reclassify this situation from an isolated event to an active outbreak,” she said.
Since October 2008, we have proudly maintained our polio-free status. This is a testament to our health professionals, our surveillance systems, and the dedication of parents who consistently vaccinate their children.
By 28 November last year, Namibia had detected poliovirus type 2 in a sewage sample collected in October 2025 from the Ndama sewage pond in Rundu.
Laboratory analysis confirmed that this virus was genetically linked to human cases in Angola, representing an importation of the virus into Namibia.
At that time, MoHSS acted immediately in line with international standards by activating the National Health Emergency Management Committee, deployed experts to the region, and launched Rounds 1 and 2 of a nationwide vaccination campaign in January and February 2026. Over 800 000 children across the country have been vaccinated so far.
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