Stopping polio through a seven-country synchronized response
Seven Member States of the WHO European Region (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) will synchronize their rounds of polio supplementary immunization activities with trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) in April and May 2010. The main objective of these rounds is to improve population immunity in the most vulnerable population groups (aged 0–5 years and 0-15 years). Two additional rounds of national immunization days (NIDs) or subnational immunization days (sNIDs) in this age group, synchronized between neighbouring countries, should effectively halt the current outbreak and prevent similar incidents in the future. Some countries will recognize these activities as part of their plans for European Immunization Week (EIW). The synchronization and coordination of immunization activities across the sub-region exemplifies the theme of this year’s EIW campaign: Shared Solutions to Common Threats.
In addition, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation committed themselves to carrying out earlier rounds of SIAs in February and March-April. As part of their outbreak‐response activities, Kazakhstan has already reported successful implementation of its February round (using monovalent oral polio vaccine type 1), with reported coverage of 98.8%, while the Russian Federation reported over 96% coverage after its first round 4-9 April.
SIA calendar April-May 2011:
Azerbaijan - 23-25 April; 23-28 May (tOPV, Sub-national – districts bordering N. Caucuses; 0-5 yrs)
Kazakhstan - 3-7 May (tOPV, nationwide, 0-5 yrs); 16-20 May (mOPV, sub-national, South Kazakhstan, 7-15 yrs)
Kyrgyzstan - 18-25 April; 23-29 May (tOPV, National; 0-15 yrs)
Russian Federation - 4-9 April; 3-7 May (tOPV, Sub-national – N. Caucuses; 0-15 yrs)
Tajikistan - 18-22 April; 23-27 May (tOPV, National; 0-5 yrs)
Turkmenistan - 25-30 April; 30 May – 4 June (tOPV, National; 0-4 yrs)
Uzbekistan - 18-23 April; 23-29 May (tOPV, National; 0-5 yrs)
More information is available in the WHO European Epidemiological Briefs.
