Poliomyelitis in Pakistan: Challenges to polio eradication and future prospects

Poliomyelitis in Pakistan: Evolving challenges and way forward

“…It is brought on by the Polio Virus (PV), a single-stranded RNA virus that comes in three serotypes (type 1, 2, and 3) which is transmitted by feco-oral route. 1,2 Since 1988, there has been a 99.9% decrease in polio cases worldwide because of the World Health Organization's Global Polio Eradication initiative. 1 This initiative has played a vital role in eradication of the disease.…”

“…Pakistan is one of the 2 nations where polio remains as an endemic disease even at the end of 2022, the other being Afghanistan. 2 In 2021, Pakistan reported just 1 case of polio linked to the Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) against 14 cases from April 1 through July 31, 2022. 2 Eleven instances of polio have been reported in the Northwestern Waziristan in 2022, clearly illustrating the loopholes in national policies to completely eradicate the disease despite its goal to immunize 12.6 million children by 2022.…”

“…2 In 2021, Pakistan reported just 1 case of polio linked to the Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) against 14 cases from April 1 through July 31, 2022. 2 Eleven instances of polio have been reported in the Northwestern Waziristan in 2022, clearly illustrating the loopholes in national policies to completely eradicate the disease despite its goal to immunize 12.6 million children by 2022. 2 The goal of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative's (GPEI) current 5-year strategic plan is to interrupt WPV1 transmission by 2023.…”

“…2 Eleven instances of polio have been reported in the Northwestern Waziristan in 2022, clearly illustrating the loopholes in national policies to completely eradicate the disease despite its goal to immunize 12.6 million children by 2022. 2 The goal of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative's (GPEI) current 5-year strategic plan is to interrupt WPV1 transmission by 2023. 3 According to WHO and UNICEF estimates, in Pakistan approximately 83% of infants received three doses of the Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV) and one dose of Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) in 2021.…”

“…5,6 In the back drop of inadequate operational performance, political will and commitment, dwindling donor confidence, security threats of healthcare workers, geopolitical insecurity, extremism, insufficient backing from local communities and civil society are the potential dangers that could delay interruption and certification. 2,5,6,7 The World Health Organization lists vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 global health hazards and is present in both industrialized and developing/transitional nations. 8 Vaccine hesitancy manifesting itself as refusal to vaccinate is multidimensional and needs to be addressed in social, political, religious and epidemiological context.…”