Polio Endgame Tokelau Workshop

At the highest level, Tokelau leader Ulu-o-Tokelau Siopili Perez was present to open the workshop. He encouraged and challenged health department officials to ensure standards are in line with international levels. He also acknowledged the assistance from WHO and UNICEF.

As workshop leaders explained, the priorities for the Western Pacific region are: maintain polio-free status; introduce inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), then (by May 1 2016) switch from trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (tOPV) to bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) and later, withdraw all oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV); contain polioviruses; and develop the polio legacy. Participants learned that the switch from tOPV to bOPV is needed in order to proactively address the growing concerns related to type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). (In recent years, type 2 VDPVs accounted for 98% of all VDPVs. By using bOPV instead of tOPV, this risk will be greatly diminished. However, before the switch from tOPV to bOPV can happen, every country should introduce at least one dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) into their RI schedule. This dose of IPV will provide children with the critical protection against type 2 polioviruses after tOPV is replaced with bOPV. It was recommended that countries, like Tokelau, using only oral vaccines should introduce IPV into their RI schedules by the end of 2015 so that all countries in the Region can switch from tOPV to bOPV in April 2016.)

According to WHO, given the unprecedented speed called for by this immunisation policy, implementing it will require high levels of political commitment, close collaboration among all immunisation partners, financial support from governments and donors, and strong internal and external communication. Tokelau's participation in the July workshop was intended to show its political and operational commitment to take an active part in the "Polio Endgame".

Results show that officials participating in the workshop improved their knowledge and skills in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) services and the IPV and OPV switch: Their average score improved from 47% pre workshop to 87% post workshop.

Immunisation and Vaccines.

Tokelau has been polio free for over 40 years. However, wild strains of the virus still exist, and the threat of poliovirus importations and subsequent outbreaks still persist. Polio poses a real threat to the Western Pacific, as the increased frequency of international travel means long-distance transmission is also on the rise.

Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand that consists of 3 small coral atolls. Tokelau's population is 1,383 (Dec. 2013 population count) with relatively large dependent groups - older and younger. Tokelau currently has no air transportation, and the only means of transport is by sea from Samoa (the trip usually takes between 24 and 30 hours). Tokelau's national development challenges are similar to those of other Pacific Island Countries (PICs), especially the atoll nations. These are: a meagre and fragile natural resource base; relative geographic isolation; heavy emigration; limited human resources; restricted human development capacity; and general dependency on foreign aid and remittances. Tokelau maintains social cohesion, active traditions, and a strong communal culture, which places considerable emphasis on collective effort and reward. Its goal: "Let no one be left behind!"