The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), recently completed a vital polio vaccination campaign that reached over 144,000 children under five years of age in the Rohingya Refugee Camps in Cox’s Bazar. This two-round initiative was a part of the WHO’s “Global Polio Surveillance Action Plan 2022-2024” to reduce the number of zero-dose and under-immunised children in these vulnerable communities.

Polio, a highly contagious viral disease affecting children under five, can cause paralysis and is primarily spread through contaminated food, water, or the faecal-oral route. Although Bangladesh was certified polio-free in 2014, the recent detection of Sabin-like type 1 poliovirus (SL1) in environmental samples from Rohingya Refugee Camps 21 and 24 raised concerns about sub-optimal immunisation coverage among the refugee population.

The influx of approximately 700,000 Rohingya people since 2017 has created densely populated living conditions, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks, including polio. As of March 2024, over 942,944 refugees reside in Cox’s Bazar, making it essential to maintain high immunisation coverage to prevent disease spread. The SL1 detection signalled that vaccine viruses could be circulating and potentially transforming into a vaccine-derived poliovirus, posing a significant threat to the health of children in these camps. 

In response, WHO and the GoB launched the two-round vaccination campaign to protect vulnerable children in the camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The campaign aimed to vaccinate 144,317 children in two rounds—held from July 14-31 and September 1-12, 2024—with the primary goal of reducing the number of zero-dose and under-immunised children and preventing the risk of polio.

The campaign achieved impressive results, with 1,650 Community Health Workers (CHWs) and 140 Community Health Supervisors (CHWS) conducting house-to-house visits across 33 camps to ensure coverage. By the end of the first round, 176,052 children (122% of the target) received their first dose of Polio vaccine. The second round saw 175,482 children (99.7% of the target) completing their second dose, along with an additional 7,497 children receiving their first dose, including 1,957 newly arrived children.

Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, highlighted the campaign’s success, stating, “This collaborative campaign exemplifies our steadfast dedication to protecting every child’s health and ensuring a polio-free future, even in the most vulnerable communities.”

This initiative underscores Bangladesh’s commitment to safeguarding children’s health and serves as a positive step towards reducing zero-dose and under-immunised rates among Rohingya children, reinforcing hope for a polio-free future.

Reference: 

Collaborative polio vaccination campaign in rohingya camps: A lifeline for 144,000 children. (n.d.). ReliefWeb. Retrieved September 30, 2024, from https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/collaborative-polio-vaccination-campaign-rohingya-camps-lifeline-144000-children