Doha, Qatar: The meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Polio Eradication for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last two countries where the poliovirus is endemic, recently concluded in Doha.
Over the four-day meeting, decisive steps were taken to stop the transmission of the wild poliovirus in both countries.
This comes despite ongoing challenges such as the rise in detection of wild poliovirus type 1 in sewage in Afghanistan and Pakistan, ongoing issues of insecurity, vaccine hesitancy, community boycotts of polio vaccination campaigns, and low routine immunisation rates among high-risk populations. Under these circumstances, the TAG experts conducted an in-depth review of polio programmes in both countries, emphasising the urgent and diligent work required to eradicate polio throughout 2024.
After thorough analysis and evaluation, the TAG concluded that poliovirus transmission could be halted if their recommendations are fully and immediately implemented. Key among these recommendations is the need to reach unvaccinated children and provide them with polio vaccines to close the critical immunity gaps that allow virus transmission.
The TAG also recommended that Afghanistan and Pakistan coordinate their efforts in the border areas known as virus corridors. This is vital given the risk of transmission in historic polio-reservoirs being re-established. Joint efforts will also maintain a unified approach, supporting all polio workforce members. The TAG experts reiterated that strong and consistent government leadership and engagement at all levels are essential for success. Eradicating polio will require improving the quality and performance of programmes and their coordination at all levels.
