A Critical Step Towards a Polio-Free World: Gavi and GPEI Boards Unite for Progress
A Global Effort to Eradicate Polio
Geneva, Switzerland, 3 December 2025, witnessed a significant milestone in the fight against polio. The boards of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) came together for their second joint session, aiming to unite forces and accelerate their shared vision of a polio-free world.
Uniting for a Common Goal
Dr. Omar Abdi and Dr. Chris Elias, leaders from Gavi and GPEI respectively, co-chaired this historic meeting. They were joined by an esteemed group of board members, representing a diverse range of stakeholders, including donor countries, implementing nations, civil society organizations, the Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF. This collaboration showcases the power of unity in tackling global health challenges.
Progress and Challenges: A Comprehensive Approach
The group delved into the progress made since their last joint meeting in June 2025. They focused on implementing more integrated and comprehensive strategies during and beyond vaccination campaigns. The aim is to ensure that every child, especially those in hard-to-reach areas, receives the critical vaccines they need. This includes the bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV), inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), and the hexavalent vaccine.
Success Stories: Nigeria and Pakistan
Country representatives shared inspiring updates from Nigeria and Pakistan. In these nations, integrated vaccination efforts are not only responding to poliovirus outbreaks but also strengthening routine immunization systems. Nigeria, for instance, launched an ambitious nationwide campaign in October, aiming to protect over 106 million children against polio, measles, and rubella. Similarly, Pakistan conducted a joint polio and measles-rubella vaccination drive in November, targeting 34 million children in high-risk districts.
The Role of Civil Society: A Community-Centric Approach
Onei Uetela, representing civil society organizations on the Gavi board, emphasized the importance of community engagement. The boards recognized the need to continue building strong relationships with civil society, ensuring that community voices are at the heart of their integration efforts. This approach is crucial for gaining trust and ensuring the success of vaccination campaigns.
Donor Support: A Critical Enabler
The boards also expressed gratitude for the continued donor contributions, which have been instrumental in procuring vaccines through flexible funding mechanisms. This support ensures that resources are directed where they are needed most, enabling the delivery of life-saving vaccines to children worldwide.
A Shared Commitment: Ensuring Access to Vaccines
The collaboration between Gavi Alliance and GPEI reflects a deep commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of their geographical location, has access to life-saving vaccines and the health systems that support them. This partnership is a testament to the power of global cooperation in tackling complex health challenges.
Ongoing Guidance and Coordination
Beyond the joint board sessions, a dedicated leadership group, comprising members from Gavi, GPEI, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Rotary International, and other partners, will continue to meet regularly. Their role is to provide ongoing guidance and maintain coordination across various initiatives, ensuring a unified approach to polio eradication.
About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a remarkable public-private partnership that has vaccinated over half the world's children against deadly diseases. As a core partner of GPEI, Gavi plays a crucial role in supporting countries to introduce the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) into essential immunization programs. This work is vital in boosting population immunity and preventing new outbreaks, bringing us closer to a polio-free world.
About Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)
GPEI, a partnership led by national governments, has achieved an impressive 99% reduction in children paralyzed by polio since 1988. However, the challenge persists in regions like northwestern Nigeria and Pakistan, where large populations of children have received no vaccines at all. GPEI's campaigns are often the only link these families have to the formal health system, making their work critical in addressing coverage gaps. GPEI often collaborates with Gavi and other immunization partners to deliver a range of life-saving vaccines, utilizing their extensive network of trained social mobilizers and trusted community leaders to increase vaccine uptake.
This joint effort between Gavi and GPEI is a powerful example of global collaboration, bringing us one step closer to a world free from the paralyzing effects of polio.
