On World Polio Day, October 24, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is celebrating 30 years since the certification of the Americas, including the Caribbean, as free from wild poliovirus transmission.

This achievement follows a dramatic decline in polio cases—from nearly 6,000 in 1975 to the last reported case in Peru in 1991. The region was officially certified as polio-free in 1994, thanks to robust vaccination efforts and surveillance.

PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa emphasized the dedication of health workers and communities in achieving this milestone but also cautioned about the ongoing risk posed by poliovirus in other regions, particularly Pakistan and Afghanistan. Maintaining high vaccination coverage and surveillance is crucial to prevent imported cases.

While global polio cases have dropped by over 99 per cent since 1988, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted vaccination rates in some areas. In 2023, 87 per cent of children in the Americas received the necessary doses of the polio vaccine, a slight improvement from 2022 but still below the 95 per cent target for herd immunity.

The day serves as a reminder of the collective effort required to eradicate polio globally and to address the risks associated with vaccine-derived poliovirus in under-immunized populations.

PAHO is calling on community leaders, health workers, and educators to collaborate in these efforts. A webinar to discuss these topics and celebrate the anniversary will be held on October 24 at 10 am Washington, DC time.