7 April 2014 – Last week, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) convened in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other topics, the group reviewed the current status of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

The group reviewed current global epidemiology of polio transmission, noted the progress achieved in IPV introduction globally and outcomes of the recent UNICEF IPV tender process, and examined progress towards eventual confirmation of a date for global type 2 OPV withdrawal. Upon reviewing the relevant scientific evidence, SAGE endorsed the updates made to the existing WHO vaccination recommendations for travellers from polio-infected countries in International Travel and Health (ITH).

A summary of the SAGE meeting is available here. The full SAGE meeting report will be published in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) on 23 May 2014.