Integration is one of five key strategic objectives in the 2022-2029 Polio Eradication strategy.

Integration activities to date have focused on campaign quality, routine immunisation and integrated service delivery activities that will help achieve interruption

Polio is currently the only Public Health Emergency of International Concern operating within an International Health Regulations (IHR) framework with Member State accountability. As the Interruption goal gets closer the focus will increasingly shift to working with partners to strengthen Routine Immunisation systems and build population immunity. This will complement efforts to improve surveillance system performance to the level required for certification and prepare emergency response capacity for transition – to maintain a polio free world.

Integration Priorities

Since July 2023, the GPEI has strengthened its global integration function, undertaking a renewed effort to support integration activities and better document these efforts. The program provides enhanced program management and coordination support to regions and countries carrying out these activities, as well as greater transparency around the opportunities for integration at all levels of the GPEI.

The Big Catch Up (BCU) is a key global Integration opportunity to boost essential immunization among children across the world, including for polio

As of March 2025, 35 countries have been approved to deliver 198 million doses of IPV through the BCU, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The polio program has been coordinating with Gavi and BCU partners to add bOPV to these activities in places where polio is still circulating. In these settings, it is recommended for a child be vaccinated with both bOPV and IPV to protect themselves and more effectively stop person-to-person transmission. In December 2024, the GPEI agreed to fund 54 million doses of bOPV for the BCU in 24 countries and efforts are ongoing to add bOPV into more BCU campaigns. As of March 2025, 5.9M doses of IPV and 4.0M doses of bOPV have been administered to children 12-59 months.  Additional information on the BCU can be found in the BCU Monitoring Dashboard.

As countries move closer to Interruption, there will be an increasing focus on working with partners to strengthen RI systems and build population immunity

GPEI recommends different approaches to strengthening RI activities depending on country epidemiological needs and health system capacity and resources. This work has commenced in 2024 and will accelerate in 2025.

For more information on Integration, including current examples of Integration activities in the Endemics and Consequential Geographies, please access the latest fact sheet from December 2024.