Oral polio vaccine immunization coverage with regard to polio eradication in Zambia: 2000-2009: A review

During the 41 st World Health Assem3ly (WHA) meeting, it was resolved that World Health Organization (WHO) takes initiative for global eradication of poliomyelitis exclusively by Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) by year 2000 with all member countries. WHO Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) schedule requires all children below 1 year of age to get 4 doses of OPV. A regular review of OPV3 coverage is essential to ensure high immunization coverage is sustained to prevent an outbreak in the event of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) importation or resurgence of poliomyelitis. A review of monthly OPV 3 routine immunization data from districts for children aged < 1 year and children aged < 5 years who had received OPV during Supplemental immunization activities was done. Immunization performance was evaluated using the WHOspecified targets of 80% and 90% at district and national levels respectively. Although routine immunization coverage’s were high at national level with a mean of 92%, only fifteen out of twenty-five (61%) districts attained the target during 2000-2009. The range was 81% to 101%, 22% to 89% and 36% to 76% at national, provincial and district levels respectively. The target for supplemental immunizations was attained in fourteen out of sixteen rounds conducted.