GENEVA, Switzerland
In a significant development in the global fight against polio, the World Health Organization has officially approved and prequalified a new novel oral polio vaccine designed specifically to combat persistent outbreak strains of the virus. The move is being described as a major milestone in international eradication efforts.
The newly approved vaccine, known as novel oral polio vaccine type 2, or nOPV2, has been engineered to be genetically more stable than earlier versions. Health experts say this stability reduces the rare but serious risk that the weakened virus used in traditional oral vaccines could mutate and trigger new outbreaks, a challenge that has complicated eradication campaigns in recent years.
Polio, a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects young children, can cause irreversible paralysis and, in severe cases, death. Although global cases of wild poliovirus have fallen by more than 99 percent since mass immunization efforts began in 1988, outbreaks linked to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 known as cVDPV2 continue to threaten vulnerable communities, particularly in regions with low immunization coverage.
The newly prequalified vaccine has been manufactured by Biological E. Limited, following a technology transfer agreement with Indonesia’s PT Bio Farma. With this approval, multiple manufacturers are now authorized to produce the vaccine at scale, strengthening global supply chains and ensuring faster response capacity during outbreaks.
Prequalification by the WHO confirms that the vaccine meets rigorous international standards for safety, efficacy, and quality. It also enables procurement and distribution by United Nations agencies such as UNICEF, allowing rapid deployment to countries experiencing active transmission.
WHO officials emphasized that while the world has made historic progress toward eradication, sustained vaccination coverage, robust surveillance, and rapid outbreak response remain critical. The approval comes amid renewed global commitment to eliminate polio entirely, a goal health authorities say is achievable but requires continued political and financial support.
The introduction of the improved nOPV2 vaccine provides health workers with a more reliable tool to contain outbreaks and protect children in high-risk areas. As immunization campaigns expand with this enhanced vaccine, global health leaders express cautious optimism that the world is moving closer to finally ending polio for good.
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