Ministry of Public Health Launches fIPV & OPV Campaign in Eastern Afghanistan
Kabul, 30 August 2025 – The Ministry of Public Health of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has launched a combined fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) campaign in the eastern region of the country, covering Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, and Nuristan provinces. The campaign will be implemented in three phases, aiming to protect children under the age of five against the threat of poliovirus.
- Phase 1: 30 August – 05 September 2025 in Jalalabad city, Mehtarlam city, Asad Abad city, and the districts of Behsud, Bati-Kot, Sorkhrod, and Khogianai.
- Phase 2: 27 September – 03 October 2025 across 20 districts of the eastern region.
- Phase 3: 18 – 24 October 2025 across 23 districts of the eastern region.
The campaign will target an estimated 1.4 million children under five years of age.
- fIPV (fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine): Administered intradermal to children aged 4–59 months using advanced needle-free intradermal jet injector devices.
- OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine): Administered orally to children aged 0–59 months.
The fIPV plays a critical role in reducing the risk of wild poliovirus transmission by priming immunity against the virus. It also boosts immunity in children who have already received OPV, strengthening overall protection.
H.E. Alhaj Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, Minister of Public Health, said:“The Ministry of Public Health remains committed to protecting every child in Afghanistan from the threat of poliovirus. Through this campaign, we aim to ensure that children in the eastern region receive the full benefits of both fIPV and OPV, strengthening their immunity and moving us closer to a polio-free Afghanistan.”
In the fight against polio, the support of all community members is crucial. Parents and families can protect their children from permanent paralysis by vaccinating them against polio during the campaign. Community leaders can motivate people in their communities to vaccinate their children and support the polio vaccination teams as they carry out the campaign.
Vaccination teams will be at the designated locations in your area throughout the campaign. Parents and caregivers are requested to familiarize themselves with these locations, and bring all children under the age of give for vaccination.
For more information:
Alhaj Dr. Abdul Qudus Baryalai, Director of National Emergency Operations Center
Phone: +93704925448
E-mail: qudus.baryalai@poliofree.af
Call Center’s Toll-Free #: 141
