The Last, Best Chance for Global Polio Eradication?

This article reflects on the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 (see Related Summaries, below), which was released at the Global Vaccine Summit in Abu Dhabi by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The Summit focused on increasing vaccine use and highlighted the growing involvement of Islamic leaders in the eradication effort, while also focusing on fundraising.

Spanning 2013-2018, the GPEI plan has 4 objectives: detecting and halting transmission of all poliovirus, strengthening routine immunisation programmes and withdrawal of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), containing poliovirus used in laboratories and vaccine production, certifying eradication, and planning a transition of the GPEI's infrastructure and resources to other global health programmes.

Of note, the plan highlights the importance of routine immunisation programmes and links between them and polio campaigns, which, as reported here, will pave the way for a global switch from the OPV to the injectable inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). The plan includes specific commitments from the GPEI to improve vaccine coverage rates for childhood immunisations and contribute to better coordination between other vaccine programmes and polio campaigns.

The plan also addresses new and highly disturbing security threats to polio vaccinators. It calls for operational adjustments in areas with security concerns, including lowering the public profile of vaccine campaigns and increasing flexibility in their timing and speed. One speaker at the Summit, the Minister of State for Health in Nigeria, said polio eradication has an unprecedented political commitment at the national and regional levels and that security challenges have not stopped immunisation efforts. He cautioned against "militarising" the programme, arguing that enhanced partnership between the international and national programmes and local authorities and improved efforts in vaccine education will help address potential violence.

As reported here, the GPEI is placing more emphasis on raising awareness about polio in communities, increasing the active engagement by religious leaders to encourage vaccine acceptance and exploring ways to expand the range of health services associated with polio campaigns. The strategic plan notes that "[f]atigue associated with campaigns and distrust for the program may be overcome if a larger set of health services are offered that deal with other acute needs (e.g. clean water)."