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Geneva, Switzerland – A recent report from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), released on March 13, 2025, has highlighted critical challenges in the global effort to eradicate polio. The report, made public after the WHO confirmed the ongoing Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding polio at the end of 2024, reveals that despite ongoing efforts, decisive action is urgently needed.
SAGE expressed significant concern over the persistent rise in wild poliovirus cases in endemic regions, emphasizing a lack of transformative changes in eradication strategies. Moreover, the spread of circulating variant polioviruses into new territories, including several European nations, poses a serious threat.
Alarmingly, vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 was detected in wastewater systems across 16 European cities between September and December 2024. This underscores the continued risk of polio resurgence in areas previously considered low-risk.
Despite these challenges, SAGE reaffirmed its support for the safe cessation of the bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) and endorsed pre-cessation vaccination campaigns. In February 2025, a mass vaccination campaign using the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) reached approximately 603,000 children, building upon over one billion doses administered in recent years.
Furthermore, SAGE endorsed a risk-grading framework to guide countries transitioning to inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)-only routine immunization schedules. The group determined that a three-dose schedule of IPV and whole-cell pertussis-containing hexavalent vaccine, starting at six weeks of age or later, is sufficient, eliminating the need for a scheduled IPV booster (4th dose). However, this recommendation does not alter WHO’s existing recommendations for booster doses of other antigens, such as diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, in the second year of life.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative currently employs two vaccine types: IPV and OPV. The United States has exclusively used IPV since 2000.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises travelers to consult with a travel vaccine expert regarding immunization options when visiting any of the 39 identified polio-risk areas as of March 2025.
The SAGE report underscores the urgent need for renewed global commitment and strategic adjustments to achieve polio eradication.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns1 or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.2 The information presented is current as of the provided data, and public health recommendations can change. Check with your local health authorities for the most recent information.
