European Region retains polio-free status, but threat of importation remains high

The European Regional Certification Commission (RCC) for Poliomyelitis Eradication reaffirmed the European Region's polio-free status at its 29th meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9-10 June 2015. Evidence provided by the Region's Member States, summarizing their polio surveillance, monitoring and immunization results, satisfied the Commission that no wild polioviruses were circulating in the Region in 2014. The RCC applauded the extensive commitment of Member States to prevent importation of polio and thereby protect the Region's polio-free status that was gained in 2002. However, the RCC expressed grave concerns that the past three years of low coverage with polio vaccination in Ukraine, along with the current crisis in that country, pose a serious threat of polio that must be addressed urgently by all stakeholders. 

The RCC Chair, Professor David Salisbury, welcomed plans developed by health authorities in Ukraine to revitalize the country's routine immunization programme but stressed that "these plans must be implemented and supplemented by additional actions urgently in Ukraine, in order to avert a major polio outbreak. As we move closer to the global eradication of polio, preventing an outbreak in Ukraine has become more crucial than ever before." He called on WHO, international partners and donors to continue to give support to Ukraine to ensure that routine and catch up vaccinations are fully restored before serious diseases such as polio find their way into the country and spread among the increasing pool of susceptible individuals. 

Annual review and recommendations

The RCC is an independent panel of 5 international polio experts, who together monitor the status of polio eradication efforts in the WHO European Region. During its 2015 meeting, the RCC reviewed reports submitted by Member States on their work:

• to maintain high immunization coverage; 
• to maintain high-quality surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and/or supplemental surveillance systems; and 
• to plan national responses to poliovirus importation. 

While immunization coverage in nearly all countries of the Region remains high, gaps in coverage in some population groups and underserved communities persist. The RCC called on all countries to take every opportunity to increase immunization coverage where needed and to continually improve their outbreak preparedness. The Commission's conclusions and recommendations will be presented in the forthcoming meeting report.