Polio at a Crossroads: Sustaining Political Commitment for Eradication and Immunization

Poliomyelitis eradication has long been a flagship of global health cooperation. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) demonstrated how sustained political commitment, scientific innovation, and international solidarity can drive disease eradication across geopolitical divides. Yet, the global campaign now stands at a critical juncture.

Wild poliovirus transmission persists in fragile settings, while circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) outbreaks highlight systemic immunization gaps. Simultaneously, global health governance faces intensifying geopolitical fragmentation, severe funding constraints, and shrinking trust in science.

This session situates polio not merely as a vertical disease program, but as a definitive test case for modern multilateralism, research–policy translation, and global solidarity. Panelists will examine strategies for navigating complex humanitarian crises, closing routine immunization gaps, and securing sustainable financing. Ultimately, the discussion will explore how the hard-won infrastructure and lessons of the GPEI can be integrated to strengthen global health architecture, foster immunization resilience, and build sustainable health systems worldwide.