The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and later joined by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1988. The initiative aimed to coordinate efforts to eliminate polio worldwide through mass vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and community engagement.
Since the GPEI's inception, tremendous progress has been made in reducing the global burden of polio. In 1988, polio was endemic in 125 countries, with an estimated 350,000 cases annually. By 2020, wild poliovirus transmission had been limited to just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Polio cases have been significantly reduced, with only a handful reported each year.
The success of polio vaccination campaigns can be attributed to several factors. First and foremost, Polio Vaccines are highly effective in preventing polio infection and its debilitating consequences. Both the IPV and OPV have contributed to the decline in polio cases, with each having its strengths and benefits.
The OPV, due to its ability to replicate in the intestines and be excreted, provides herd immunity by limiting the spread of the virus from person to person. This is particularly important in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene, where the virus can easily spread through contaminated water or food. The OPV's ease of administration, requiring no needles or syringes, has made it the primary vaccine used in mass vaccination campaigns in polio-endemic regions.
