Victoria, Seychelles, 29th April 2016 - Following its commitment to implement the Global Polio Eradication Strategy, on the 1st of September 2015 Seychelles  joined the global effort to introduce the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) into its routine immunization schedule. The vaccine is being administered to all children at the age of four months along with their second dose of DPT-HepB-Hib and oral polio vaccine (OPV2).

Although the last case of polio in the country was registered in 1966, the Seychelles is also one of the 216 countries worldwide to roll-out the IPV vaccine by the end of 2015. This action is the largest and fastest globally coordinated vaccine introduction project in the history of the world.

In preparation for the introduction of the IPV in September 2015, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) conducted a number of activities.  These included training of health workers to prepare them for the introduction of the vaccine. Posters and leaflets were also produced and distributed to all health facilities .

Technical experts from WHO facilitated a two-day training workshop for some 32 health workers which was aimed at building their capacity and skills on the administration and management of the IPV vaccine.

The official launching ceremony of IPV took place at the English River Health Centre on 1st September 2015.  The ceremony was attended by the WHO Liaison Officer for Seychelles, Dr Cornelia Atsyor, Dr Shobha Hajarnis the Chairperson for Polio certification committee, Mrs Doreen Hotive, WHO EPI Focal person and Mrs Florida Bijoux EPI Manager. 

The highlight of the event was the administration of the IPV vaccine to four months old Ariah Saleb Ibrahim Abdoulaye and baby Indra Monthy. It was EPI nurse Miss Serah Desir who had the privileged to administer the first IPV vaccine to baby Ariah and Indra. 

The launching ceremony received good media coverage from SBC radio and television, the Seychelles News Agency and by the Seychelles Nation newspaper.

Since September 2016, the vaccine has been very well accepted by the population, with coverage remaining at 100%. Seychelles therefore remains well on track to achieve a “Polio free world.”

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For more information, please contact:

Doreen Hotive (Mrs), NPO/HIP Officer, Tel: (248) 4224795, Fax: (248) 225754, Email:  hotived [at] who.int (hotived[at]who[dot]int)