Recommendations for Reporting on Poliovirus Outbreaks: A media guide for journalists writing about circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) and polio eradication

The media have an important role to play in communicating about one of the most complex challenges facing global polio eradication efforts: the spread of variant poliovirus outbreaks in areas where immunization rates are low. This guide is intended to support media reporting on cVDPVs to ensure coverage does not inadvertently cause vaccine hesitancy, mistrust, or other unintended adverse consequences to public health and use of polio vaccines. Vaccination efforts that achieve and maintain a high level of coverage (85% or higher) within at-risk populations are critical to stopping all forms of polio and finally achieving eradication of the disease.