Dear polio eradication supporter, Catch up on the latest polio eradication activities around the world this month in Polio News.
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Nigeria polio infrastructure supporting COVID-19 vaccine roll-out
To encourage uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, the Nigerian government has been working with polio partners in leveraging polio vaccination campaigns in integrating COVID-19 vaccination. The concept is to provide polio vaccine to eligible children, and offer COVID-19 vaccination to their parents at the same time. At the end of the 4-day campaign across highest-risk areas, almost one million children received polio vaccine and more than 125 000 and 60 000 adults received the first and second dose of COVID-19 vaccination.
nOPV2 to move to next use phase
On 11 October, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recommended that novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) move to the next use phase, which could help to prevent outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). Looking at data from four large-scale campaigns delivering over 65 million doses, SAGE found no major safety concerns associated with the vaccine – opening the door for more countries to be eligible for nOPV2 use in the near future.
Last endemic region recommits to ending polio
This past month, country leaders from across the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO EMRO) – which includes the final two countries with wild poliovirus transmission – gathered to recommit to ending polio for good and creating healthier futures across the Region. Polio program officers from Pakistan and Afghanistan were joined by members of the GPEI’s Polio Oversight Board (POB) to discuss ongoing and future activities to stop and prevent the spread of wild polio and cVDPV outbreaks.
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POLIO IN NUMBERS
Wild Poliovirus in 2021 (2020)*
Global Total: 2 (132)
Circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus in 2021 (2020)*
Global Total: 444 (607)
*Data as of 2 November 2021. Numbers in brackets represent data at this time in 2020.
Breakdown by country
Polio this week
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POLIO IN THE NEWS
Reuters: Polio vaccination campaign to begin in Afghanistan
Sydney Morning Herald: End in sight for a disease that closed borders, shut pools and theatres
Voice of America: Pakistan, Afghanistan Mark Polio Day Amid Optimism for Eradication
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WHO is very grateful to Germany for its generous contribution of €17.5 million, which will support the GPEI’s global polio eradication activities. This corresponds to the last disbursement of Germany’s €35 million annual contribution to polio eradication efforts.
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