30 September 2025, Aden, Yemen – The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) successfully launched the second round of the polio vaccination campaign across 12 GoY controlled governorates. The 3-day campaign, running from 29 September to 1 October 2025, aims to immunize over 1.3 million children under 5 against poliovirus.
This second round follows the first nOPV2 campaign in July 2025 and forms part of Yemen’s urgent response to the ongoing circulation of variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). As of week 38 of 2025, 29 confirmed variant poliovirus type 2 have been reported in 28 children in the north and one in the south. Since 2021, Yemen has recorded 451 cases, the vast majority (96%) among children under 5. Environmental surveillance continues to detect poliovirus in sewerage water, underscoring the need for repeated vaccination rounds to halt the circulation of the virus.
“With the support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), this second round is crucial for closing immunity gaps and moving Yemen closer to stopping poliovirus transmission," said WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Syed Jaffer Hussain. “Working alongside the Ministry of Public Health and Population, UNICEF and our partners, WHO is committed to reaching every child, including those in the most vulnerable communities”
This campaign will be implemented by a network of around 15,000 health workers in
mobile door-to-door teamsand at fixed sites in health facilities. Nearly 1,000 supervisors, from Government and partner agencies, will provide supervision for the campaign.
“Every child in Yemen deserves protection from preventable diseases such as polio,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Yemen. “This campaign brings vaccines to doorsteps, health centers and remote communities, ensuring that even the most vulnerable children receive the protection they urgently need."
WHO and UNICEF, key partners in GPEI, are providing unwavering support to the Government of Yemen as it works to eradicate polio and bolster routine immunization. Continued, synchronized investment is essential to achieve full coverage and ensure no child is left behind.
About WHO
Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit http://www.unicef.org/yemen
Media contacts
WHO Yemen Communications:
UNICEF Yemen Communications:
