KEYWORDS:
Polio Eradication, Financing, Cost-effectiveness

BACKGROUND:
The polio eradication initiative (PEI) has been highly successful in lowering the number of polio cases worldwide. However, questions have been raised about the impact of PEI financing on resource allocation for routine immunizations. Another issue facing PEI is the need to improve efficiency of house-to-house mop-up campaigns, which though effective, are expensive to implement.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To examine whether focus on PEI financing resulted in reduction in financing of routine immunization programs due to resource competition.
To explore strategies for improving the cost-effectiveness of PEI’s house-to-house immunization approach.

METHOD(S):
The three studies used a combination of country case studies, key informant interviews and email and phone surveys. In three countries, data was gathered on sources and uses funds to measure the trends in financing routine and PEI activities. In two countries, cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted on PEI approaches.

RESULT(S):
The results of two studies indicated that national and international donor financing of routine immunization activities were not adversely impacted by PEI funding. In most cases, funding for PEI helped to increase funding for routine immunization and strengthen the program’s infrastructure. The third study demonstrated that intensive polio eradication activities such as house-to-house immunizations are more cost-effective if they are combined with investments in program management and surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
The financing of routine immunizations and funding for special immunization initiatives can be complementary rather than competitive.
Integration of polio surveillance and management strengthening with house-to-house mop-up campaigns is recommended as a strategy to improve the efficiency of PEI’s activities.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1)Participants will be able to describe the impact of the polio eradication initiative on national and international donor financing.
2)Participants will also be able to identify a cost-effective operational approach to conducting polio eradication campaigns.