Dodoma Region is targeting more than one million children under the age of 10 in a national oral polio vaccination campaign aimed at strengthening immunity and preventing the spread of poliovirus.
The campaign, which starts on August 27, 2026, will target 1,003,461 children across the region’s eight local government authorities. A second round is scheduled for September 29 to October 2, 2026.
Speaking to journalists in Dodoma, Regional Commissioner Rosemary Senyamule said the campaign was a precautionary public health measure designed to strengthen children’s protection against polio and boost community immunity.
She stressed that there is currently no confirmed case of polio in Dodoma Region, cautioning residents against interpreting the vaccination exercise as evidence of an outbreak.
The campaign will cover all children below 10 years, including those who have completed their routine immunisation schedules. Authorities say the additional doses are intended to strengthen protection against the virus.
To reach as many children as possible, 2,001 vaccination teams have been deployed across the region. Each team comprises a vaccinator, data recorder and community mobiliser.
Vaccination will be conducted at schools, health facilities, places of worship and through house-to-house visits, as well as other locations where eligible children can be reached.
Dodoma City has the largest target, with 207,096 children, followed by Chamwino with 169,408, Kongwa with 151,386, Mpwapwa with 135,907, Chemba with 119,631, Bahi with 115,909, Kondoa with 80,465 and Kondoa Town with 23,659.
The exercise forms part of a wider national vaccination campaign involving the Ministry of Health, the Prime Minister’s Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), and vaccination partners.
Ms Senyamule urged parents and guardians to ensure that all eligible children receive the oral polio vaccine, which is being provided free of charge.
She also called on residents to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, including regular handwashing with clean water and soap and proper use of toilets, to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
The campaign is being conducted under the slogan: “Vaccinate Your Child. Protect Your Child’s Smile. Stop Polio.”
Religious leaders, teachers, community leaders, health workers and media organisations have also been urged to support the campaign by providing accurate information and encouraging parents and guardians to present their children for vaccination.
For families, the campaign provides an important opportunity to strengthen protection against polio and help ensure that children across Dodoma remain safe from a disease that can cause permanent paralysis.