Polio Eradication Initiative: Lessons Learned

The cessation of polio vaccinations in a single region of just one country can result in dramatic increases in cases there and in neighboring countries. Overcoming the setbacks resulting from the outbreak of poliovirus in Nigeria and its spread to other African countries, Yemen, and Indonesia provided several lessons:

• Population immunity must be achieved and sustained until the poliovirus is eradicated.
  
  
• Routine immunization must be increased if supplemental campaigns are unfunded in order to achieve the same level of population immunity.
  
  
• Surveillance and laboratory performance must achieve and sustain certification-standard levels.

Program Overview

Strategy

Interventions and Achievements

Steps to Ending Poliovirus Transmission

Related Links

• Archived Polio Reports to Congress
• Issue Brief on the USAID Polio Eradication Initiative
• Polio Eradication: A Photo Documentary
• Results Framework for the USAID Polio Eradication Initiative
• USAID Partners on the Polio Eradication Campaign
• WHO Regional Bulletins and Newsletters