Every year on October 24, the world unites to observe World Polio Day, a date chosen to honor the birth of Dr. Jonas Salk, developer of the first polio vaccine. The 2025 theme, “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,” emphasizes a vital goal. It stresses the urgent need to make vaccines available to all children worldwide to eliminate this disabling disease. The day celebrates the progress made and reminds us that the final stretch is always the hardest.
What is the History?
How did this global battle begin?The fight against polio began in the mid-1900s. Large-scale vaccinations were made possible by Dr. Albert Sabin’s OPV in 1962. This breakthrough in science sparked a global campaign to combat polio. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was founded in 1988 by Rotary International in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and CDC.
What are the Results from Decades?
The results of decades of vaccination campaigns are nothing short of spectacular. Since 1988, the GPEI has cut wild poliovirus cases by over 99%. Annual cases have dropped from around 350,000 to just a few. Several regions are now polio-free, including the Americas (1994), Europe (2002), South-East Asia (2014), and Africa (2020). Two of the three wild poliovirus types, 2 and 3, are now gone.
The Current Battlefield
Where does polio still exist? As of October 2025, the remaining wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) is found only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The situation is a mix of good and bad news. Afghanistan has seen a promising decrease, from 25 cases in 2024 to 7 in 2025. However, Pakistan is experiencing a resurgence, reporting 29 cases so far in 2025 after 74 cases in 2024. In these endemic regions, insecurity, challenging terrain, and population migration complicate the battle.
What is the Current Challenge?
What is the new challenge facing eradication? Ironically, the very tool used to fight polio has created a complication. Where routine immunization is weak, the live oral vaccine virus can sometimes mutate and trigger cVDPV outbreaks. Globally, there were 67 cases in 2025. To address this, a new genetically stabilized oral vaccine (nOPV2) is being developed, although careful observation is required.
Also Read: United Nations Day 2025: Celebrating 80 Years of Peace, Global Partnership & Significance
The Path to a Polio-Free World
The strategy to completely eliminate polio is multi-pronged. The 2022–2026 GPEI plan targets the final chains of WPV1 spread and seeks to stop cVDPV outbreaks. This includes:
- Enhanced Surveillance: Tracking the virus involves testing sewage and keeping an eye out for cases of paralysis.
- Community Engagement: Addressing vaccination fear and fostering trust by collaborating with local leaders.
- Cross-Border Coordination: Ensuring that Pakistani and Afghan immunization campaigns are coordinated.
- Sustained Funding: Preserving the strong healthcare system needed for the last push.
