The Federal Government announced an 85 percent decline in circulating vaccine‑derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases between 2021 and 2022. Prof. Akin Osibogun, Chairman of the Expert Review Committee on Polio and Routine Immunisation, disclosed this at the 39th ERC meeting on Polio and Routine Immunisation held in Abuja on Tuesday. The World Health Organization’s 2021 annual report had recorded 1,027 cVDPV2 cases in Nigeria, attributing the high number to sub‑optimal population immunity. However, experts note that these cases do not jeopardise the country’s wild poliovirus‑free certification. The last wild poliovirus (WPV) case was reported in Borno State in August 2016, and on 25 August 2020 Nigeria was certified wild‑polio‑free, contributing to a polio‑free African region.
Speaking at the review meeting, Prof. Osibogun praised the collaborative effort of national and state governments, partners, and other stakeholders, stating, “With the support of the government and the partners, we have made significant progress. There has been an 85 percent drop in the incidence of cVDPV2 in Nigeria, and we are close to eradicating cVDPV2.” He emphasized that, while wild polio has been eliminated, continued focus is needed to harness resources, strengthen routine immunisation, bolster primary health‑care systems, and improve surveillance capabilities.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director and CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, reiterated the commitment to eradicate every form of polio. “Our goal is to finalize and fine‑tune plans so that by the end of 2023 we will have completely eradicated all polio variants, both circulating and wild,” he said. He highlighted the strong performance of states such as Edo, Ekiti, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, and Ondo in the recent cVDPV2 outbreak response.
Dr. Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative, commended the government’s efforts but called for intensified actions to address the residual risk of cVDPV2 resurgence in vulnerable areas and to enhance surveillance. He warned that the global risk of WPV and cVDPV2 transmission remains high due to endemic WPV1 in Pakistan and Afghanistan and residual risks in Mozambique, Malawi, and the recent rise in cVDPV2 cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “The COVID‑19 pandemic’s impact on the economy and the interruption of cVDPV2 outbreaks demand renewed commitment from all key players,” he said. Achieving zero cVDPV2 cases in Nigeria in 2023 is feasible, but requires addressing residual risks, bridging immunity gaps to prevent WPV importation, implementing innovative strategies to reduce orphan virus detection, improving monitoring and accountability during vaccination campaigns, and prioritising allocation of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 for faster, broader response.
Comments are closed for this story.