How vaccine-derived poliovirus has questioned the public health response to emerging infectious diseases

This review aims to explore the existence of poliovirus from the peak of epidemics to modern resurgences, understand its public health response in polio-endemic countries, and the influence of public perceptions of vaccine-derived polio on its eradication progress. A literature search was conducted using combinations of the search terms polio, eradication, vaccine-derived, global, resurgence, Covid-19, and vaccination. A total of 15 articles were included in the review. Polio has become overshadowed by recent health issues dominating the interest of public health agencies and the World Health Organization. Endemic countries struggle to eradicate polio as civil conflict, foreign distrust, and public health misinformation have produced a lack of political will to eradicate polio. Furthermore, the militarization of public health has caused eradication initiatives to lose their credibility and has painted humanitarian aid as an ulterior motive. Additionally, countries that are struggling to contain polio are suffering from resource shortages and new health issues prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As millions of immunizations were missed during the pandemic, there has been concern for a global uprising of polio following surges of polio cases in both endemic and polio-free countries. Although eradication programs in the past have emphasized the need for programs tailored to communities’ needs and a strong sense of global collaboration, this strategy has been poorly utilized by recent polio programs. Efforts to eliminate polio go beyond acquiring the tools for eradication. Although effective interventions and screening procedures for polio exist, eradication cannot be achieved unless barriers to accessibility and poor political will are addressed. Given this, polio resurgences demand a change in the way polio is perceived by the public as well as a unified global commitment to eradicate polio.