ReliefWeb

Key highlights

• One (1) n case of cVDPV2 was reported this week from Mayadeen district, Deir Ez-Zor governorate. The case, a 19-month-old child with no history of polio vaccination, had onset of paralysis on 19 August.

• The total number of confirmed cVDPV2 cases is 48.

• The second immunization round for Raqqa commenced 7 October. mOPV2 is being administered to children 0-59 months of age, and IPV to children aged between 2-23 months. Aqua tabs are being provided to families together with vaccination.

• Initial reports indicate that vaccination has started in all three districts of Raqqa (Tell Abyad, Raqqa and Thawra).

Immunization response

• The national response plan currently includes two immunization rounds each in Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa governorates. Deir Ez-Zor activities include the southern part of Shadadi district in Hasakah governorate. The first and second rounds for Deir Ez-Zor have been completed (22-26 July, 22-28 August), as well as the first round for Raqqa (12-17 August).

Raqqa

• The second immunization round for Raqqa commenced 7 October. mOPV2 is being administered to children 0-59 months of age, and IPV to children aged between 2-23 months. Aqua tabs are being provided to families together with vaccination.

• Initial reports indicate that vaccination has started in all three districts of Raqqa (Tell Abyad, Raqqa and Thawra).

• A total of 160 mobile and 30 fixed vaccination teams are implementing the campaign. Thirty-two team supervisors and five senior coordinators are managing field activities.

• Community leaders in Raqqa have been engaged in all districts to assist in the monitoring of vaccination activities and to help facilitate access of vaccination teams. Community leaders are reporting directly to vaccination teams, supervisors, and the polio control room in Tell Abyad.

• Reserve mOPV2 stocks are being stored in Thawra to cater for population influxes, as part of contingency plans. An additional 60 vaccination teams are on standby for contingency activities.

• Vaccination teams have been trained on reporting cases of AFP. A team in rural Tell Abyad has reported an AFP case during the round; the AFP case is under investigation.

Deir Ez-Zor

• IPV vaccination for children missed in the second Deir Ez-Zor round continues through local health centers.

Other governorates

• IPV campaign activities aiming to reach children aged between 2-23 months in areas of Aleppo and Idlib governorates are ongoing. The campaign started 30 September.

• Screening of IDPs from infected areas continues, with active searches for AFP cases conducted among new arrivals. Collection of stool samples from healthy children to boost surveillance, and provision of additional doses of IPV to children from infected areas, continues.