Polio transition aims to sustain, and where needed repurpose, the network and infrastructure set up to eradicate polio to build stronger, more resilient health systems, with a focus on essential immunization, disease detection, containment and emergency preparedness and response. 

In many countries, particularly fragile and conflict-affected settings, the polio network provides critical support to the health system. Polio workers have decades of experience in identifying missed populations and using innovative strategies to reach them with health care. Maintaining these networks is important to strengthen the foundations of public health in these vulnerable settings. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Member States to transition their polio assets to strengthen public health systems to advance primary healthcare towards universal health coverage and to strengthen global health security.  

Polio transition is guided by the Polio Transition Strategic Framework, with its goals articulated in the Global Vision, which aims at a world in which polio investments are sustained and used to build strong, resilient and equitable health systems, where all countries:

1. remain polio-free

2. minimize the burden and eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases

3. rapidly detect and control disease outbreaks.