World Polio Day: Progress, Challenges, and the Road to Global Eradication
World Polio Day is celebrated every year on the 24th of October to highlight the importance of the polio vaccine and the efforts undertaken by different organisations and countries to eradicate polio. Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a viral disease that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord of individuals. It can lead to paralysis and breathing distress, often causing death in both children and adults.
Every year, World Polio Day has different themes and aims, each directed towards global polio eradication. Similarly, World Polio Day aims to vaccinate children consistently, raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination, and take a step towards a polio-free world.
History of World Polio Day
The world polio day history is an inspiring tale itself. World Polio Day is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Jonas Salk, who created the first polio vaccine. It is a step towards global polio eradication, and hence, Rotary International started this day to highlight the importance of a polio vaccination schedule to prevent the disease in children.
Since the inception of World Polio Day, several volunteers and organisations have been deeply involved in every country in conducting polio vaccination programs and raising awareness of its importance.
World Polio Day has different themes every year, each time focussing on a new aspect of global polio eradication. For instance, the theme for 2024 was "A Global Mission to Reach Every Child," where the focus was on the persistent drive to fully protect all children from polio, especially in places where the virus is still prevalent.
Every World Polio Day addresses and answers a common question - "How to prevent polio?" The day also has several specific objectives which differ from year to year. In short, this day not only emphasises having a polio vaccination schedule, conducting polio vaccination programs, and spreading overall polio vaccination importance, but it also brings the world together for polio eradication efforts.
Progress in Polio Eradication
With several polio eradication efforts, the cases of polio have significantly reduced over time. However, certain regions still have active polio cases. Polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan is still prevalent, marking the need for greater initiatives for complete global polio eradication. In fact, the active polio cases in Pakistan have risen from 126 to 186 in 2024, while Afghanistan recorded 44 new cases. 1
On the other hand, the last active case reported in India was in 2011 in the state of West Bengal, and the country has not recorded any further cases since then, indicating successful prevention of polio.2
Challenges to Polio Eradication
Polio, a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects young children, has been a target of global eradication efforts for decades. Despite significant progress, eradicating polio remains a formidable challenge, particularly in certain regions of the world. The obstacles to polio eradication are multifaceted, involving political, social, logistical, and biological complexities.
1. Geopolitical Instability
One of the primary challenges to polio eradication is the ongoing political instability in regions where the virus is still endemic, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. These areas are often affected by armed conflict, insurgencies, and poor governance, making it extremely difficult to carry out mass polio vaccination programs. 3
Health workers are frequently at risk, with many facing intimidation, violence, or even death. For instance, in recent years, there have been numerous attacks on polio vaccinators in Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading to the suspension of immunisation efforts in many areas.
In such conflicted regions, vaccination teams face logistical hurdles in reaching remote or dangerous areas. This instability leads to gaps in conducting a polio vaccination schedule, allowing the virus to continue circulating among unvaccinated children. Furthermore, displaced populations fleeing violence may bring the virus to previously polio-free areas, further complicating eradication efforts.
2. Vaccine Hesitancy and Misinformation
Vaccine hesitancy is another significant barrier to polio eradication. In many communities, misinformation about the polio vaccine persists. This is particularly true in some parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, where rumours and conspiracy theories about the vaccine causing infertility or being part of a foreign plot have taken root. Hence, the polio outbreak is still prevalent in these two countries.
Misinformation campaigns, often amplified by social media, can lead to widespread mistrust of health authorities and international organisations. As a result, parents may refuse to vaccinate their children, undermining herd immunity and allowing the virus to continue circulating. Overcoming these attitudes requires sustained community engagement, education, and the involvement of local leaders to build trust in the safety and efficacy of polio vaccines.
3. Logistical and Financial Constraints
Polio eradication efforts are resource-intensive, requiring ongoing funding, personnel, and infrastructure. In many countries with weak health systems, conducting frequent immunisation campaigns is a challenge. The logistical aspects of reaching every child, especially in rural or inaccessible areas, are also daunting. Health workers must navigate challenging terrain, extreme weather conditions, and insufficient transportation options to deliver vaccines.
Moreover, while global funding for polio eradication has been substantial, it is not unlimited. Sustained financial support is necessary to continue vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and monitoring efforts. Any reduction in funding could result in a resurgence of polio in areas where the virus has been eliminated, but immunity is compromised.
4. Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (cVDPV)
Another major challenge is the emergence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV), a rare but serious phenomenon. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) contains a weakened strain of the virus, which can, in very rare cases, mutate and cause outbreaks in communities with low vaccination coverage. This has led to cases of polio in areas where the wild poliovirus has been eradicated.4
Addressing cVDPV outbreaks requires additional immunisation campaigns, which can strain resources and contribute to vaccine fatigue in communities. The transition to the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which does not carry the same risk, is underway but presents its own challenges, including higher costs and the need for more trained healthcare workers to administer it via injection.
Role of Vaccines in Eradication Efforts
Vaccines play a central role in polio eradication efforts. There is no other way to prevent polio apart from repeated vaccination of children. According to reports, almost 20 million people are free from the disease and would otherwise be paralysed due to the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative by the World Health Organization in 1988..5
As mentioned earlier, vaccines are the only way to eradicate global polio, and hence, every parent should ensure their children are vaccinated for the disease within the prescribed age. However, one must also remember that the polio vaccine should be given to children multiple times, and hence, following a polio vaccination schedule is important. These schedules are generally created by the government or other volunteering organisations, whereby polio camps are conducted across the city at specific intervals.
How Individuals and Organisations Can Contribute
If you're wondering what World Polio Day is and how you or other individuals can contribute, Here are some of the answers to how to prevent polio and the steps you can undertake.
A. Supporting Immunisation Campaigns
Organisations, healthcare providers, NGOs, and international agencies are at the forefront of immunisation efforts, such as creating vaccination schedules. They play a critical role in organising and implementing mass vaccination drives, particularly in regions where healthcare infrastructure is weak. Organisations, notably the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Rotary International, have long been involved in polio eradication through their Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which coordinates vaccination efforts across borders, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
NGOs can support these efforts by mobilising resources, deploying health workers, and providing logistical support to deliver vaccines to remote and underserved communities. Furthermore, businesses and corporations can contribute financially to support these campaigns or by offering their infrastructure, such as vehicles and communication networks, to assist in the delivery of vaccines.
B. Engaging in Public-Private Partnerships
Public-private partnerships have been successful in global health initiatives, and polio eradication is no exception. By partnering with governments and international organisations, businesses can help fund and implement vaccination campaigns and health education programs. These partnerships can extend to pharmaceutical companies, which can provide vaccines at reduced costs or fund research and development to improve vaccine delivery systems.
For example, many corporations have supported the GPEI by contributing financial resources, expertise, and technological innovation. This collaboration between the private sector and public health entities has been instrumental in bringing polio to the brink of eradication.
C. Promoting Community Engagement
Organisations also play a key role in fostering community engagement, an essential element for the success of polio eradication campaigns. Religious and community-based organisations, for instance, can work with local leaders to promote vaccine acceptance and combat hesitancy.
Healthcare organisations, through their outreach programs, can conduct workshops, seminars, and educational campaigns and share polio survivors’ stories to raise awareness about polio, its transmission, and the importance of immunisation. By empowering local leaders and involving the community in the eradication process, organisations can help build a sustainable foundation for long-term success.
The collective efforts of individuals and organisations are essential to achieving polio eradication. Together, these groups can work to ensure that the final pockets of polio transmission are eliminated.
While much of the global burden of polio has been reduced, vigilance is required to prevent a resurgence. This involves not only delivering vaccines but also maintaining surveillance systems to detect any potential outbreaks. Individuals and organisations alike can contribute to these systems by reporting any suspected cases of polio and ensuring continued advocacy for vaccination.
Looking to the Future
World Polio Day aims to eradicate polio globally and reduce the number of cases in the countries where the disease exists. While it is evident that such an awareness program has been successful in global polio eradication in most countries, further polio eradication initiatives, explaining polio vaccine importance, and conducting polio vaccination programs can further help us reduce the number of active cases of polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Conclusion
The eradication of polio is within reach, but it requires sustained, coordinated efforts from individuals and organisations worldwide. Individuals contribute by raising awareness, ensuring vaccination, and volunteering in health initiatives. Organisations, through funding, public-private partnerships, and community engagement, play a vital role in delivering vaccines and fostering acceptance in resistant communities. On World Polio Day, let’s pledge to use individual efforts to achieve the goal of a polio-free world.
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