Papua New Guinea has officially launched its 2026 immunization campaign, marking the start of World Immunization Week coinciding with the rollout of the third round of Polio Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA R3).
The launch was led by Secretary for Health, Pascoe Kase, who highlighted the importance of vaccines under this year’s theme, “For every generation, vaccines work.”
Kase said the ongoing campaign builds on progress made since the country declared a polio outbreak in 2025. He noted that more than 2.3 million children were reached during the first and second rounds of vaccinations.
“This campaign is very critical, especially for children under the age of five,” he said, urging Provincial Health Authorities to ensure effective implementation across all provinces.
In addition to the polio campaign, health authorities are also administering a second round of tetanus vaccinations for women of childbearing age, expanding protection efforts for both children and mothers.
The annual immunization week, observed globally from April 24th to 30th , serves as a reminder of the role vaccines play in preventing disease and strengthening health systems.
Health officials say vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives worldwide over the past 50 years, protecting against illnesses such as polio, measles and rotavirus.
PNG’s latest vaccination drive follows the detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in several provinces last year.
The outbreak resulted in a small number of confirmed cases, but large-scale immunization efforts helped halt widespread transmission. The last reported human case was recorded in September 2025.
Despite the progress, authorities say the risk remains, prompting a targeted campaign focusing on approximately 350,000 children under five in high-risk areas, including Central, Morobe, Enga and the National Capital District.
He said, “The goal is to achieve at least 95 per cent vaccination coverage to fully contain the virus.”
The 20-day campaign will deliver oral polio vaccines and routine immunizations through health facilities and outreach programs nationwide.
The initiative is backed by international partners, including the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the governments of Australia and Japan, as well as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and GAVI.
Kase called on parents, community leaders, and health workers to support the effort, stressing the importance of collective action.
“We must work together to make this the final chapter of this outbreak,” he said. “Every child vaccinated brings us closer to a polio-free future.”
The government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring no child is left unprotected, as Papua New Guinea continues to strengthen its national immunization and public health systems.
