Polio Overview

Tremendous progress has been made to eradicate polio in the last two decades.

Since 1988, about 2.5 billion children around the globe have been vaccinated against polio, and the number of polio cases per year has decreased by 99 percent.

The global fight against polio is one of the largest, most ambitious internationally coordinated health initiatives in history.

Many of the key pieces for polio eradication are in place: effective vaccines, the leadership of a global partnership, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), political will, dedicated volunteers, and a global mandate to eradicate the disease.

A last push is needed to eliminate polio in just a few areas in the world.

Northern Nigeria, northern India, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan account for more than 75 percent of global polio cases today. Halting poliovirus transmission in these endemic areas is vital not only for the populations in these areas but so that neighboring polio-free areas do not become reinfected.

We’re working to eradicate polio in the fastest way possible.

We believe this goal is attainable, and reaching it will demonstrate that remarkable improvements in health can be achieved even in the most challenging settings in the world.

Next: Our Approach

We support the goals of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which aims to treat 50 million people with TB and prevent 14 million deaths from the disease by 2015. Our strategy supports efforts to

Increase the number of polio vaccination campaigns

Mass immunization campaigns that administer oral polio vaccine to every child under 5 are one of the key ways to interrupt the circulation of poliovirus. We support immunization campaigns in the four remaining polio-endemic areas and the other countries that remain at risk.

Create innovative surveillance and control systems

A strong and sensitive surveillance system provides the information needed to ensure that polio resources are accurately targeted, programmatic adjustments are made in a timely and efficient fashion, and outbreaks are identified and addressed as soon as possible. We support reforms of the current global polio surveillance system and the development of new surveillance approaches.

Increase the demand for polio vaccinations among households and communities

Some children not immunized against polio because of their caregivers’ concerns about vaccinations. We support communication strategies to keep families and communities engaged on the importance of polio eradication, address their fears and concerns about immunization, and promote other health behaviors that improve the survival and well-being of children.

Advocate for funding and commitment

Globally, there is a shortage of funding to implement all the activities necessary for polio eradication. We are engaged in efforts to secure additional funds and sustained political commitment so that eradication activities can be carried out when and where they are needed.

Develop new vaccines

Oral polio vaccine, the most widely used vaccine against polio, is highly effective. However, in extremely rare instances, the vaccine can cause neurological damage and the weakened poliovirus used in the vaccine can adapt and mutate into a deadlier version that causes polio in the very children it was meant to protect. We are supporting efforts to develop better vaccines that address these challenges.

Develop antiviral drugs

Antiviral drugs are needed in the case of a future accidental or intentional reintroduction of poliovirus in the post-eradication era. We’re supporting investments to identify at least two inexpensive, stable, orally administered antiviral drugs that are safe for individuals of all ages and effective against all poliovirus types and strains.