The November 11 briefing, co-hosted by the Mass Media Department of the Commission for Information and Education of the Central Committee (CIECC) and UNICEF Lao PDR, brought together health officials, international partners, and journalists from across the country. The core objective was to equip the press with the tools to combat medical misinformation, build public trust, and ensure maximum vaccine uptake among communities.

With the polio virus posing a severe threat to child health, officials underscored that routine and targeted immunizations remain the most effective defense against outbreaks.

“Every unvaccinated child is a gap where the polio virus can reach,” said Simon Nazer, Chief of Communication and Partnerships at UNICEF Lao PDR. “This is why we are training media partners nationwide. While health workers bring the vaccines to the people, journalists will bring this message to the people: every child must be protected from polio, without any exceptions.”

During the opening remarks, Somsavath Phongsa, Director General of the Mass Media Department, highlighted the media’s frontline role in public health advocacy. He urged journalists to actively dismantle rumors and fake news by relying on accurate, up-to-date, and authoritative data to encourage parents and guardians to follow the Ministry of Health's immunization schedule.

The briefing outlined the strategic rollout of the upcoming vaccination drive, which will focus on 12 designated high-risk target districts. Participants broke into targeted working groups to develop tailored communication strategies designed to penetrate hard-to-reach areas and resonate with diverse local populations.

This third phase of the polio campaign is heavily supported by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) of Saudi Arabia, facilitated through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). KSrelief’s funding specifically bolsters risk communication and community engagement, ensuring that vulnerable families receive timely facts to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

Beyond the immediate polio campaign, the event also served as an introduction to UNICEF’s 2027–2031 country programme. Sessions throughout the day emphasized the importance of ethical journalism, child-centric investment priorities, and the critical need to respect and elevate children's rights and voices in the national media landscape.

KPL