Preparing for post-eradication
To prepare for the management of long-term poliovirus risks after wild poliovirus transmission has been interrupted globally, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has a multi-pronged programme of work for 2010–2012 consisting of research, new product development, strategy formulation and policy development.
Major elements
Characterizing the long-term poliovirus risks
Activities will focus on better characterizing the primary long-term poliovirus risks from:
- circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs)
- vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP)
- immunodeficiency-related vaccine-derived polioviruses (iVDPVs)
- residual stocks of wild polioviruses, VDPVs and Sabin viruses.
The programme of work will also focus on the strategies for mitigating each of these risks.
Establishing mechanisms to internationally coordinate risk management strategies
Mechanisms need to be established to internationally coordinate key poliovirus risk management strategies. In particular:
- the application of appropriate safeguards and bio-containment conditions for the handling and storage of residual polioviruses and potentially poliovirus-infected materials
- the synchronization of the cessation of routine immunization with OPV
- the adherence to internationally-agreed processes for the 'post-eradication' use of OPV (i.e. live polioviruses) in response to new cVDPVs.
Developing new products to manage the risks associated with OPV cessation
This work includes:
- developing an international stockpile of monovalent oral polio vaccines (mOPVs) to respond to cVDPV outbreaks
- developing affordable inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) options for low-income countries that wish to continue routine immunization against polio after OPV cessation.