Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I understand that polio has been eradicated, but I am curious about the necessity of continued vaccination. Could you explain the rationale behind ongoing vaccination efforts despite the elimination of the virus? Specifically, I am interested in understanding how vaccines contribute to preventing potential outbreaks and maintaining immunity.
Kindly help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
The success rate for polio eradication stands at approximately 99 percent; however, some countries still harbor wild-type poliovirus due to incomplete immunization of children. This poses a global risk as long as the virus remains endemic in these regions. Incidental outbreaks of wild-type poliovirus, underscore the potential for international spread, with imported cases traced back to endemic countries.
Challenges to eradication efforts extend beyond incomplete immunization programs. Ongoing conflicts and wars in affected nations often disrupt healthcare systems and diminish health priorities, complicating vaccination campaigns. Moreover, the emergence of poliovirus variants, including modified vaccine strains, presents additional hurdles, particularly in areas with suboptimal vaccination coverage.
The Oral polio vaccine (OPV), administered in two-drop doses to children under five years of age, plays a crucial role in establishing herd immunity. OPV facilitates intestinal immunity, as the live attenuated virus replicates in the intestine, is subsequently excreted in feces, and transmitted via fecal-oral routes to immunize other children within the community.
Supplemental OPV drives, which provide two additional doses beyond those included in national or universal immunization programs, bolster herd immunity and enhance overall vaccination coverage.
In immunization programs, two types of polio vaccines are utilized:
Oral polio vaccine(OPV): Administered at birth, 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age, and as a booster dose at 16 to 24 months, OPV protects against serotypes 1 and 3.
Injectable polio vaccine (IPV): Administered as part of primary immunization in universal programs or as additional immunization alongside OPV, IPV is given in fractional doses (0.1 ml intradermal injection in the right upper arm) at 6 and 14 weeks of age, offering protection against all three poliovirus serotypes. Notably, our national immunization program incorporates IPV as part of its strategy.
I hope this helps.
Please revert in case of further queries.
Thank you.
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Answered byDr. Shubadeep Debabrata Sinha
Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team
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