title: Polio Eradication and Endgame Plan - Victory within Grasp.
abstract: Since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1988, the number of polio-endemic countries has decreased from 125 to 2 (Afghanistan and Pakistan). To secure the gains and to address the remaining challenges, the GPEI developed the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan, 2013-2018 (the Plan), endorsed by all Member States at the WHA in May 2013. One of the major elements that distinguishes this Plan from previous GPEI strategies is the approach to ending all polioviruses, both wild and vaccine-derived. Overall, the Plan outlines four main objectives: (1) to stop all wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission; (2) to introduce inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), withdraw all oral polio vaccines (OPV), and strengthen immunization systems in countries with weak immunization systems and strong polio infrastructure; (3) to certify all regions as polio-free and safely contain all poliovirus stocks; (4) and to mainstream the investment in polio eradication to benefit other priority public health initiatives for years to come. Implementing the Plan and meeting the milestones in a timely manner will help to ensure that that the world remains permanently polio-free.
authors: Task Force for Global Health, Atlanta, GA, USA; *World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; and #World Health Organization, New Delhi, India. Correspondence to: Dr Manish Patel, Center for Vaccine Equity, 325 Swanton Way, Decatur GA 30330, mpatel@taskforce.org.
authors: Manish
authors: M
authors: Patel
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Menning
authors: Pankaj
authors: P
authors: Bhatnagar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000379:methods; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017955:Poliovirus; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral
chemical_list: D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral