Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018

The Polio Eradication & Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 is a comprehensive, long-term strategy that to deliver a polio-free world by 2018. It was developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in consultation with national health authorities, global health initiatives, scientific experts, donors and other stakeholders, in response to a directive of the World Health Assembly.

The plan addresses the eradication of all polio disease, whether caused by wild poliovirus or circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, while planning for the backbone of the polio effort to be used for delivering other health services to the world’s most vulnerable children.

The plans four objectives are to:

1. Detect and interrupt all poliovirus transmission
2. Strengthen immunization systems and withdraw oral polio vaccine
3. Contain poliovirus and certify interruption of transmission
4. Plan polio’s legacy

Polio Eradication and Endgame Midterm Review 2015

A mid-term review was conducted for the plan in mid-2015. Working in some of the most difficult environments in the world has presented major challenges to reaching children with vaccines. The review concluded that while the strategic plan remains a strong framework for ending polio, there is an urgent need to re-focus certain priorities and activities. This includes:

• Strengthening disease surveillance
• Improving the quality of immunization campaigns
• Building capacity to respond to outbreaks.

Based on these recommendations, the review also evaluated the deadline for eradication, and any resulting financial implications.

Polio Eradication & Endgame Midterm Review July 2015

Post-Certification Strategy

GPEI is developing a strategy for maintaining a polio-free world after global certification of the eradication of polio. The strategy will define the global technical standards for functions that are essential to keeping the world polio-free.

The strategy has three goals:

• Contain poliovirus sources: Ensure potential polioviruses are properly controlled or removed
• Protect populations: Withdraw the oral live attenuated polio vaccine (OPV) from use and immunize populations with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) against possible re-emergence of any poliovirus
• Detect and respond: Promptly detect any poliovirus reintroduction and rapidly respond to prevent transmission

Learn more about the Post-Certification Strategy.

Key downloads

Related resources