World Polio Day 2026: Americas mark 35 years free of wild poliovirus as vaccination gaps persist

PAHO urges countries to close immunization gaps and strengthen surveillance to protect the Region from imported poliovirus

Washington, D.C., 23 October 2026 (PAHO) – The Americas mark 35 years without a case of polio caused by wild poliovirus this World Polio Day, but vaccination coverage remains below the 95% target recommended by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), leaving the Region vulnerable to the reintroduction of the virus. 

In 2025, vaccination coverage continued to recover from declines during the COVID-19 pandemic, but remained below the recommended target for all three doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). Some 91% of children received their first dose, up from 86% in 2024; 89% received their second dose, compared with 87% the previous year; and 87% received their third dose, up from 85% in 2024 and 80% in 2021. 

“The elimination of wild poliovirus from the Americas is one of the Region’s greatest public health achievements, but we cannot take it for granted,” said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa. “As long as poliovirus circulates elsewhere, the risk of importation remains. Maintaining high vaccination coverage and strong surveillance is essential to protect children and prevent the virus from regaining a foothold.”

In 1975, nearly 6,000 polio cases were reported in the Americas. The last case of wild poliovirus in the Americas was recorded on 23 August 1991 in Peru, in an unvaccinated two-year-old child who developed irreversible paralysis. In 1994, the Americas became the first region in the world to be certified free of wild poliovirus transmission.

This achievement followed decades of sustained immunization efforts across the Region, supported by strong surveillance and cooperation among countries. Mass vaccination campaigns and expanded access to routine immunization helped interrupt transmission, demonstrating the impact of coordinated public health action.