After 35 years without polio in Honduras, the challenge is to maintain immunity

Honduras marks a historic moment in public health: 35 years without a single case of wild polio , a disease that devastated lives and left irreversible scars.

This achievement is possible thanks to mass vaccination promoted by the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), which has worked tirelessly since 1979 to protect every child in the country.

However, authorities warn that the threat remains. Polio still exists in several countries and the virus could return if vaccination coverage declines.

A battle won, but not the end of the war

Xiomara Erazo , head of the PAI in Honduras, is a witness to the commitment with which they work to eradicate polio in the country.

“It is a great achievement, but we cannot be complacent. There are still outbreaks of polio worldwide and the virus could re-circulate if we do not keep our vaccination rates high,” he said.

Their message is clear: Honduras won a battle, but the war against polio is not over.

Protecting future generations requires sustained effort, and every parent and community plays a critical role.

Testimony

Roxana Castillo ‘s story is a testimony that echoes behind the numbers and achievements.

Castillo is a prominent Honduran microbiologist. She contracted polio as a child, which left her with physical scars that would accompany her throughout her life.

“I was affected by a disease that is preventable with a vaccine,” says Castillo, who has dedicated more than 20 years to studying viruses and vaccines in Honduras.

“Working on the topic of vaccines made me understand what a single dose can prevent; what I lacked, other children now have free and within reach,” she explains with conviction.

Today, Castillo is a defender of vaccination and, with her story, she invites new generations to understand the value of these campaigns.

“Every vaccine is an opportunity to avoid a fate similar to mine. Polio doesn’t just affect the body, it transforms lives,” she reflects.

The threat does not disappear

Despite the achievements of countries such as Honduras, wild poliovirus remains present in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan .

This implies a constant risk of reintroduction of the virus, especially if vaccination coverage declines.

During the COVID-19 pandemic , misinformation and fear of vaccines caused a global decline in immunization rates, a worrying trend that is also perceived in the country.

“The current generation has not experienced the terror of polio, but it remains a real threat,” Erazo warns.

Honduran authorities, with the support of international organizations such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) , are working to raise awareness among the population about the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage.

With more than 1,660 vaccination centers across the country, immunization is accessible and free.

Vaccines are a right and a duty, experts stress, because only with high coverage can herd immunity be ensured.

Vaccines

Immunization not only prevents polio, it protects generations from devastating diseases such as measles, rubella and diphtheria.

Today, Honduras is moving towards a polio-free future, but this goal will only be possible if each family understands that vaccination is not optional, but essential.

This 35th anniversary of being free of wild polio is a reminder that every vaccine administered represents a potentially saved life.

It is also an opportunity to renew the national commitment to immunization and ensure that Honduras remains a polio-free country.