Officials fear that the risks of under-immunization are not clearly understood by the publicBeirut, 10 April 2014 – As the threat of polio grows across the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon today launched a national polio immunization campaign to prevent polio regaining a foothold in Lebanon after an absence of 13 years. 

This campaign is part of a multi-country regional drive to contain the spread of the highly infectious and incurable virus. The campaign aims to immunize at least 600 000 children under-5 in Lebanon against polio over the coming six days. Vaccinators will also protect all children under 18 against measles and rubella and deliver vitamin A to strengthen children's immune systems.