15 February 2010
The largest immunization campaign ever conducted in Liberia, took place in November 2009, with a massive turnout of nearly 80% of those identified to receive the vaccine. From 23-29 November, some 2.4 million people were immunized against yellow fever, a potentially lethal infection transmitted from an infected person by mosquitoes.
In addition to the vaccine against yellow fever, children between 12 months and five years of age received deworming treatment. Over 2,275 teams spread out across 78 districts to assist in the week-long campaign. All Liberians – except pregnant women and children under 9 months –were targeted to receive the vaccine.
In May this year, one case of yellow fever was confirmed in Nimba County and 12 cases were confirmed over the past nine years. The severity of the disease is such that one single confirmed case in a country constitutes an epidemic. There is no cure for the disease but a single injection provides immunity for ten years.
Prior to the campaign, radio broadcasts were used, and community mobilizers dispatched throughout the country to inform the population about the danger of yellow fever and the importance of immunization, as well as providing details on the closest vaccination points. A complex logistic organization supported the vaccination campaign, with supplies being dispatched to some hard to access areas by motorcycles, boats and even helicopters.
The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and GAVI Alliance supported the Government of Liberia to plan, implement and monitor the large-scale vaccination campaign.
http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-82PJSQ?OpenDocument