12 February 2026 – The World Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) welcomes the World Well being Group (WHO)’s resolution to grant prequalification (PQ) standing to the novel oral polio vaccine kind 2 (nOPV2) by India’s Organic E. Restricted (BE). This new advice expands BE’s function from fill‑end actions utilizing bulk vaccine provided by PT Bio Farma (PTB) to full manufacture of the vaccine. Since March 2024, BE has added 700 million doses of nOPV2 into the worldwide stockpile.
With this new PQ, BE turns into the second full producer of nOPV2, becoming a member of PTB in Indonesia. Collectively, the 2 producers present diversified, steady international manufacturing capability for this essential device to cease outbreaks of kind 2 variant poliovirus for good.
With the brand new WHO advice, BE is anticipated to provide 600 million doses per 12 months, strengthening international outbreak response capability and making certain nations can entry nOPV2 quickly when wanted.
This milestone additionally provides to India’s file of world management in vaccine manufacturing and its contributions to increasing entry to inexpensive life‑saving vaccines throughout the World South.
“Increasing nOPV2 manufacturing is important to making sure nations can reply rapidly to variant poliovirus outbreaks,” stated Mike McGovern, Chair of the Worldwide PolioPlus Committee, Rotary Worldwide and Chair of the Polio Oversight Board, GPEI. “Organic E’s prequalification standing strengthens the worldwide provide and brings us nearer to ending these outbreaks for good.”
Greater than 2 billion doses of nOPV2 have already been administered worldwide since they have been first launched in 2021. After years of large-scale use, proof exhibits that nOPV2 is efficient in stopping variant poliovirus outbreaks. Estimated danger of latest variant polio outbreaks is sort of 80% decrease than what could be anticipated if monovalent oral poliovirus vaccine kind 2 was used on the identical scale. This improved stability makes nOPV2 a essential asset within the international effort to remove variant polioviruses, complementing fast, high-quality immunization campaigns and robust illness surveillance programs.
“As a next-generation vaccine, nOPV2 is a significant scientific advance for polio outbreak response,” stated Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, Director for Polio, Gates Basis. “Having Organic E as a full producer expands the reliable provide nations want to guard youngsters and maintain progress towards eradication.”
Concerning the GPEI:
The World Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by nationwide governments with six companions – the World Well being Group (WHO), Rotary Worldwide, the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Kids’s Fund (UNICEF), Gates Basis and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Its purpose is to eradicate polio worldwide.
