Measles and rubella elimination: learning from polio eradication and moving forward with a diagonal approach.

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Expert Rev Vaccines. 2017 Oct 23:1-14. doi: 10.1080/14760584.2017.1393337. [Epub ahead of print]

Measles and rubella elimination: learning from polio eradication and moving forward with a diagonal approach.

Goodson JL¹ Alexander JP¹ Linkins RW¹ Orenstein WA².

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

In 1988 an estimated 350000 children were paralyzed by polio and 125 countries reported polio cases the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to achieve polio eradication by 2000 and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was established as a partnership focused on eradication. Today following eradication efforts polio cases have decreased >99% and eradication of all three types of wild polioviruses is approaching. However since polio resources substantially support disease surveillance and other health programs losing polio assets could reverse progress toward achieving Global Vaccine Action Plan goals. Areas covered: As the end of polio approaches and GPEI funds and capacity decrease we document knowledge experience and lessons learned from 30 years of polio eradication. Expert commentary: Transitioning polio assets to measles and rubella (MR) elimination efforts would accelerate progress toward global vaccination coverage and equity. MR elimination feasibility and benefits have long been established. Focusing efforts on MR elimination after achieving polio eradication would make a permanent impact on reducing child mortality but should be done through a diagonal approach of using measles disease transmission to identify areas possibly susceptible to other vaccine-preventable diseases and to strengthen the overall immunization and health systems to achieve disease-specific goals.