There is little doubt that the year 2020 will go down in history as one of transformation. No life was left untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted everything from international travel and trade to health systems. But it has not deterred the effort to eradicate polio.
The Eastern Mediterranean regional polio programme reflects on 2020 as a year of immense challenge and innovation. Over the last 12 months, teams have pivoted to provide vital support to countries responding to COVID-19 while maintaining poliovirus surveillance and have worked diligently to resume polio vaccination campaigns and respond to new outbreak emergences.
Whilst the difficulties are far from over, 2020 has shown the resilience of the polio eradication workforce all over the Region, and the determination of parents and stakeholders to achieve a polio-free future.
Since campaigns resumed in July, almost 66 million children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have received at least one dose of polio vaccine through supplementary immunization activities.