17th SAGE Polio Working Group

Since 2011, the SAGE Polio Working Group has focused on two key elements of the new 'polio endgame': advice to SAGE on policy guidance on the use of (IPV) in the post-eradication era in low and middle income settings, and the introduction of one dose of routine IPV at the DPT3 encounter. In April 2016, OPV2 withdrawal was implemented. In April 2017 and October 2017, the SAGE made a recommendation on the future immunization policy after the OPV withdrawal. SAGE requested the Polio WG to continue reviewing the cVDPV2 epidemiology and remaining issues from OPV2 withdrawal (e.g. IPV shortage) as well as future immunization policy.

The 17th meeting of the SAGE Polio WG will be used to accomplish the following objectives:

• Review the Wild and Vaccine Derived Poliovirus epidemiology, especially type 2, after the OPV2 withdrawal

• Continue discussion on the future immunization policy (e.g. readiness criteria for full OPV withdrawal)

• Review guidelines on iVDPV surveillance and protocol on containment breach