WHO - World Health Organization

Published purpose

WHO supports countries who do not receive support from Gavi to boost populations’ long term immunity to polio through the withdrawal of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) and the introduction of injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccines (IPV). These are critical components of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan (2013-2018). Non-Gavi countries who are eligible to introduce IPV will apply to WHO for a one-time grant to cost-share vaccine introduction, as a means of strengthening national routine immunization programs. WHO will coordinate with UNICEF to procure the required IPV vaccines and provide countries with technical support to deliver, store and track vaccines, thereby helping to increase immunization coverage and reduce preventable child mortality. This project directly supports the Global Polio Eradication Initiative's (GPEI) Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan goal of achieving polio eradication by 2018. This project contributes to Canada’s $250 million commitment made to the GPEI at the 2013 Abu Dhabi Vaccine Summit for support to the GPEI Endgame Strategy (2013- 2018), and complements the efforts of Gavi to introduce IPV.