Thursday, July 31, 2025
Between 26 June and 11 July 2025, the 19th Meeting of the Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication of the Americas (RCC) was held online, with the objectives of reviewing the polio situation in the Region, discussing and validating 2024 annual reports, providing recommendations for the completion of the Global Action Plan (GAP) III, updating the regional polio outbreak risk assessment, and updating immunization coverage. The review assessed the risk of polio circulation in cases of importation or emergence, with 3 countries at very high risk, 13 at high risk, 11 at medium risk, and 17 at low risk. Regional polio immunization coverage experienced a slight decline from 2023 to 2024, with 89% of IPV1, 84% of IPV2, and 86% of Polio3. Despite this small change, all countries except one have introduced the recommended second IPV dose. Surveillance performance declined from 2023 to 2024, with an AFP rate of 1,38 per 100,000 children, below the target of 1.0 per 100,000. There remain significant risks of missing polio cases due to surveillance gaps at national and subnational levels. As we approach global eradication and certification, adherence to surveillance standards will become increasingly important. In conclusion, Dr. Arlene King, Chair of the RCC, emphasized the critical role of containment in polio eradication, stating that the RCC acknowledges advances in containment but stresses continued efforts to complete the process. Some recommendations were made to countries.
Reference: 19th meeting of the Regional Commission for Certification of Polio Eradication in the Region of the Americas (RCC)Labels: PAHO
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