Lebanon Holds Emergency Meeting to Boost Readiness Against Polio in Syria

Minister of Public Health Rakan Nassereddin held an emergency meeting dedicated to assessing the health risks facing Lebanon, in light of recorded cases of polio caused by Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (VDPV) in Deir ez-Zor province in Syria, which necessitates raising the level of readiness and strengthening prevention, surveillance, and immunization measures in Lebanon. Participating in the meeting were Dr. Randa Hamadeh, Director of the National Immunization Program; representatives from scientific and advisory committees concerned with vaccination, Dr. Bernard Jarbaka, Dr. Mohammad Aytani, and Dr. Abderrahman Bazzari; along with WHO Representative Dr. Ahmad Zwiten, UNICEF Representative Dr. Shu Anke, experts and technical teams from both organizations, the technical team of the National Immunization Program, and officials responsible for epidemiological surveillance and preventive medicine at the Ministry of Public Health.

The meeting addressed an assessment of potential risks and their implications on the epidemiological situation in Lebanon, as well as urgent preventive measures to be taken, emphasizing that regional developments require the highest levels of caution and vigilance, especially given the successive emergency conditions Lebanon is experiencing and their potential impact on the regularity of vaccination services and routine coverage.

In this framework, emphasis was placed on "strengthening coordination with the Lebanese General Security Directorate to ensure verification of the vaccination status of children arriving through official border crossings, and facilitating the vaccination of children who need to complete their doses, particularly with oral polio vaccine, in cooperation with relevant health teams, ensuring no opportunity for vaccination is missed."

Attendees affirmed "the necessity of intensifying routine vaccination efforts, especially in areas recording low coverage rates, enhancing epidemiological surveillance and early detection of any suspected cases, alongside continuing technical coordination with WHO, UNICEF, and relevant partners to ensure rapid response and effectiveness of preventive measures."

Nassereddin stated that "the responsibility to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases is a shared national responsibility, not limited to the Ministry of Public Health and health teams, but including service providers in the public and private sectors, schools, parents, and all relevant partners."

In this context, the Ministry of Public Health called on parents to ensure their children complete all scheduled vaccine doses according to the National Immunization Program, without negligence or delay, confirming that vaccines are available free of charge and with high quality at primary healthcare centers affiliated with the ministry's network and its partners, as well as at private clinics cooperating with the ministry.

The ministry affirmed that "thanks to joint national efforts and the continuation of immunization programs, Lebanon has maintained its polio-free status for twenty-three consecutive years, and preserving this achievement requires continued vigilance and commitment by everyone to vaccination, surveillance, and preventive measures. Vaccination is not merely a health measure, but a fundamental right for every child and a shared responsibility to protect society. The child has the right to vaccines, to a dignified life, and to good health."

It called on all stakeholders to deal with this development with the highest degrees of responsibility and awareness, to preserve children's health and ensure the continued protection of Lebanon from polio.

For any inquiries or additional information on this topic, please contact the Primary Healthcare Department at the Ministry of Public Health at the following numbers: 01-830371 – 72