The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) recently carried out a thorough programme review through its management structures, as well as with contributions from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) on Polio Eradication and Technical Advisory Groups on Polio Eradication in the two remaining polio endemic countries. Considering the current epidemiological and programmatic situation, the GPEI revised the overall strategy timeline as well as the milestones for wild poliovirus type-1 and cVDPV2 elimination.
The global eradication of polio requires the cessation of all oral polio vaccines (OPV) in routine immunization (RI), as soon as possible after the eradication of wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission. A phased approach starting with the 2016 global switch from trivalent OPV (tOPV) to bivalent OPV (bOPV) was established to lead to OPV cessation, at which point all countries will only use inactivated polio vaccines.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative bOPV Cessation Team (a.k.a. BOCeT) is responsible for the management and coordination of partners’ activities leading to bOPV cessation as outlined in the Post Certification Strategy. The BOCeT is working to ensure that plans for bOPV cessation as well as routine immunization linkages in bOPV using countries are an integral part of existing national immunization plans and activities.
This session will present the GPEI strategy timelines and proposed triggers and enablers of success for bOPV cessation
- Poliomyelitis
