Twenty months without any cases of polio reported in this region is an important milestone, but authorities say that the mission has not been accomplished yet. They add, that now is the time for maximum vigil, high levels of preparedness, high quality surveillance and maintenance of high immunity against polio among all children who are under five years of age.

This must be done through intensified routine immunization and supplementary vaccination campaigns, when and where they are needed. The recent outbreaks in Tajikistan in 2010 and in China during 2011, have provided important lessons in maintaining high population immunity as protection against importations.

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