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2025 10 23

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From High Burden to Near-Elimination — Vaccines at the Heart of Polio Eradication

Prevention is not only better, but also cheaper than cure.

Olakunle Oladehin

On World Polio Day 2025: Celebrating Progress in Nigeria’s Fight Against Polio — And Reinforcing the Call for Vigilance

When vaccines were introduced some 70 years ago, polio (poliomyelitis) was one of the most feared childhood diseases worldwide. In Nigeria, the story has been of immense challenge: high transmission, many paralysed children, difficult terrain, conflict-affected regions, vaccine hesitancy and population mobility. Yet through sustained effort, strong partnerships, community mobilisers, and evolving vaccine tools, Nigeria has made extraordinary strides. On World Polio Day 2025 we take stock of the journey — the vaccine developments, the breakthroughs in Nigeria, the work still ahead—because the final steps demand as much effort as the early ones.

A vaccinator administering oral polio drops to a child during an integrated campaign in Nigeria (GPEI / WHO)

Polio, vaccines and the evolving tools

The global history of polio vaccination is well known: the arrival of the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) developed by Jonas Salk in the 1950s, followed by the live-attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) by Albert Sabin in the early 1960s. These tools opened the door to major declines in wild-type poliovirus (WPV) globally.

In Nigeria’s context, these tools were deployed in mass immunisation campaigns, Supplemental Immunisation Activities (SIAs), integrated with routine health systems and community outreach. Over time the vaccine strategy evolved further: as countries moved closer to elimination, the risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) emerged, so the shift toward inactivated vaccines (IPV) or new-generation OPVs and integration with routine immunisation became important.

As Nigeria continues its journey, the evolution of vaccines remains central:

The initial battle was primarily against wild poliovirus using OPV, which is inexpensive, easy to administer and has strong intestinal immunity (important for interrupting transmission).
As the wild virus receded, the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) became more visible. Nigeria now faces that challenge: maintaining very high coverage, surveillance, and using the right vaccine tools in the right places.
The reliance on strong routine immunisation (including IPV) and high-coverage campaigns means the vaccine infrastructure must be robust, continuous, and adaptive.

Thus, vaccine development and deployment strategy are inseparable from Nigeria’s polio story.

Nigeria’s remarkable progress

From one of the highest-burden countries to wild polio-free

At one point in the early 2010s Nigeria was responsible for well over half of polio cases worldwide. World Health Organization+3World Health Organization+3UNICEF+3 But thanks to a sustained push, Nigeria made impressive gains:

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Nigeria was no longer considered endemic for wild poliovirus. World Health Organization
In August 2020, Nigeria—and thus the African continent—was celebrated for the absence of wild poliovirus transmission. UNICEF+1
These milestones are vital: eliminating wild poliovirus means the most classic form of paralysis from polio has been driven out.

What made Nigeria’s progress possible

Strong government commitment: National leadership and coordination at federal and state levels, including the establishment of Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs), supported campaign planning and outbreak response. World Health Organization+2WHO | Regional Office for Africa+2
Community engagement and traditional leaders: In Nigeria’s northern states especially, engaging religious, traditional, and community leaders was key—helping to build trust, overcome resistance, and reach remote/underserved populations. TIME+1
Mass immunisation campaigns and supplementary immunisation activities (SIAs): Nigeria held multiple rounds of OPV campaigns, reaching tens of millions of children. For example, over 45 million children under five were repeatedly immunised in a pivotal period. World Health Organization
Surveillance and data-driven response: Nigeria invested in active case-finding, environmental surveillance in key areas, and rapid response to any detected virus. Recent efforts (2025) include Rapid Surveillance Assessments (RSAs) in states like Jigawa to close detection gaps. WHO | Regional Office for Africa
Integration and adaptation: The programme adapted to the changing context (wild-type to vaccine-derived virus risk), leveraged polio assets for broader immunisation, and used strong partnerships (UNICEF, WHO, GPEI, Gavi, Rotary etc.). WHO | Regional Office for Africa+1

Current focus & remaining challenges

Even with wild poliovirus eliminated, Nigeria’s fight is not over. Key current priorities include:

Addressing circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2): Nigeria continues to report cases of this variant in some high-risk states, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin and northern states. WHO Apps+2WHO | Regional Office for Africa+2
Ensuring high vaccination coverage and routine immunisation: Gaps in coverage—especially in conflict-affected or inaccessible areas, or among hard-to-reach populations—pose risk. For example, in 2024 Nigeria launched a massive campaign to protect ~106 million children against measles, rubella and polio, combining services in hard-to-reach states. GPEI
Vaccine hesitancy, conflict & access issues: Northern Nigeria faces issues of non-compliance, misinformation, insecurity and logistical hurdles. WHO | Regional Office for Africa+1
Sustained surveillance and rapid response: The 2025 RSAs across states illustrate the need for continuing vigilance. WHO | Regional Office for Africa

Why Nigeria’s story matters — and what it teaches us

Nigeria’s journey underlines several essential lessons for global vaccine advocacy and polio-eradication work:

Vaccines transform lives – The decline of wild polio in Nigeria (and in Africa) is a concrete, powerful proof that immunisation works.
Ending one form of the virus is not the same as being fully safe – While wild poliovirus may be eliminated, vaccine-derived strains demand that immunisation systems and surveillance remain robust.
Community-based efforts are foundational – No campaign succeeds only through top-down policy; Uunderstanding local context, engaging community and religious leaders, adapting to access challenges—all have been essential in Nigeria.
Integration matters – Nigeria’s recent campaigns link polio with measles, rubella, routine immunisation and primary-health-care services—reducing duplication, improving efficiency, and building system strength.
The last mile is often the hardest – Un- or under-vaccinated pockets, conflict zones, poor infrastructure, and trust issues all cluster at the end of a disease-eradication journey—exactly where Nigeria is now.
Vigilance must continue beyond celebration – Certification or wild-virus elimination doesn’t mean zero risk. The systems that polio built (cold chain, data, community networks) need to sustain.

Community leaders at the forefront of vaccines administration

Call to action: what needs to happen now

On World Polio Day 2025, the message for Nigeria (and all partners) is clear: celebrate, yes — but double down. Here’s how you can frame what’s needed:

Maintain and raise vaccination coverage: Every child counts. The high-risk states (northern Nigeria, border zones, conflict-affected areas) must be reached and reached again.
Strengthen routine immunisation: Polio campaigns alone aren’t enough. The routine system must be robust, integrated and trusted so children don’t miss immunisations.
Invest in surveillance and outbreak response: Early detection of any poliovirus (wild or derived) means fast response. Nigeria’s 2025 RSAs show this is happening, but must continue. WHO | Regional Office for Africa
Tackle access, equity and vaccine hesitancy: Engage local leaders, women mobilisers, and trusted community voices. Address misinformation, logistical barriers and security constraints proactively.
Sustain funding, partnerships and ownership: The global community supports Nigeria; but domestic ownership, local leadership and long-term funding are vital to finish the job.
Ensure the vaccine strategy adapts: As Nigeria moves further toward eradication of all poliovirus, the blend of OPV, IPV, newer OPVs and integration with broader immunisation must be kept under review.
Use polio-programme assets for broader health gains: The infrastructure built for polio (cold-chain, data systems, community networks) should help strengthen other immunisations and child-health services.

For Nigeria—and for advocates like you—this is a moment to celebrate past success, yes, but also to invigorate the push toward the finish line. Because until all forms of poliovirus are stopped, until every child is vaccinated, until the last inaccessible child is reached, the threat remains.

Let 24 October 2025 be both a celebration and a recommitment: we have come far, but let us go all the way.

Tags : Vaccines , Prevention , Preventable Diseases , Equity , Access , Sustainable Development Goals , vaccination schedule , where to get vaccines , Health Education , Community Health

Comment 13

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