CDC Global Health - Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) Program

STOP Program: Frontline defense against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases

The Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) program, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), trains volunteer international public health professionals and deploys them to countries around the world. STOP participants play a critical role in supporting polio eradication efforts and strengthening immunization systems and vaccine preventable disease surveillance programs in the countries where they work.

The work that STOP participants do not only has a powerful impact on the health systems of their assignment countries, but presents a valuable opportunity for participants to learn new skills, grow as individuals and build their professional profiles. STOP is also a valuable career advancement opportunity, and many alumni secure positions in WHO, UNICEF, Non-Governmental Organizations, and ministries of health upon completion of the program.

STOP participant in Nigeria vaccinating a child during a polio vaccination campaign

STOP participant vaccinating a child in Nigeria

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking highly qualified public health professionals to join the STOP Program for up to two 11-month assignments, for a consecutive two years. Please click on the links below to find out more about the specific qualifications for each STOP position.

STOP participant training health workers in Uganda

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global travel restrictions, and limitations with hosting a training overseas, The STOP Program will not be recruiting in 2021. We intend to accept applications for STOP Team 55, 2023 deployment, in May 2022. Please check back for further updates.

Smiling children and STOP participant in Syria

Since 1998, the STOP program has built capacity to fight polio and other vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) around the world. STOP participants make critical contributions to:

Global polio eradication efforts
Measles and rubella elimination efforts
Enhanced VPD surveillance and control
Improved national routine immunization services and systems
Timely and effective outbreak response

By participating in STOP, volunteers gain valuable skills in international immunizations and surveillance, cross-cultural communication, and working with agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and international ministries of health. Afterwards many STOP alumni secure positions with WHO, UNICEF, ministries of health, and other international public health agencies.

Please see the following links for success stories and benefits of STOP participation:

Success Stories
STOP Volunteers: Polio Heroes

Recent STOP Publications: