COUNTRIES in the Americas must maintain polio vaccination and epidemiological surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to prevent outbreaks, say experts at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). The reminder comes on the eve of World Polio Day, observed on October 24.

While the Americas was the first Region to be declared polio-free more than 25 years ago, that achievement needs can only be protected with continued vaccination and strong surveillance.

“Although as a Region we have defeated polio once before, if we allow vaccination coverage rates to fall and become too low, we will be at risk for polio circulation in our communities once again,” said PAHO Director, Carissa F. Etienne.

She added: “That is why it is more important than ever to do our part to protect and sustain polio elimination in our Region while we wait for countries in other parts of the world to achieve this goal.”

Regional polio vaccination coverage rates for the Americas have been below the recommended 95 per cent over the past few years. Reported coverage for the third dose of the oral polio vaccine (OPV3) for the Americas between 2016 and 2019 ranged between 85-87 per cent.

Coverage in 2020 might to be lower in many countries due to disruptions in primary healthcare activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cuauhtemoc Ruiz Matus, head of PAHO´s Immunisation Programme, said, “Now during the pandemic, we must work extra hard to not lose what we have gained.”

He noted that important factors in the success of the Region´s fight against polio included strong political commitment from governments; engaged, committed communities; strategic partnerships and support between international agencies, Rotary International, and governments; and tireless healthcare workers who made it their goal to reach and protect every child with polio immunisation.

“Without all of these things, we wouldn´t be where we are today,” said Ruiz.

The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed essential health services, including immunisation services and epidemiological surveillance systems designed to catch vaccine-preventable diseases quickly and allow for a rapid response before outbreaks grow, as healthcare workers around the Region have been focusing on pandemic response.

The Region of the Americas reported its last case of poliomyelitis caused by wild poliovirus in 1991, and in 1994 was the first Region to receive the certification of having eliminated the virus.

Lessons learned from the Americas on epidemiological surveillance and initiatives aimed at the sustainability of immunisation programmes through PAHO’s Revolving Fund for Vaccine Procurement have been shared with immunisation programmes globally, and now five of the six WHO regions – representing more than 90 per cent of the world´s population – have been certified as free of wild polio. Only two countries in the world continue to report wild poliovirus transmission: Pakistan and Afghanistan.