Introduction of Bi-valent Oral Polio Vaccine

RAJYA SABHA

Based on the recommendations of India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG), the advisory body to the Government of India on Polio Eradication, it has been decided to administer Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) in specific areas depending on the availability.

As per the IEAG, virologic, genetic, operational and technical evidence show that India is on the right path for polio eradication. Although the number of polio cases has increased in 2009 as compared to 2008, the geographic scope of both poliovirus type1 and type3 has reduced further.

Trials in India with bOPV have shown the vaccine to be more efficacious than the traditionally used trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) and almost as good as the currently used monovalent oral polio vaccines mOPV1 and mOPV3 – which protect against the corresponding poliovirus type.

As per the opinion of the IEAG the use of the bivalent OPV is expected to achieve interruption of transmission of polio type1 while maintaining control of polio type 3 and once this is achieved, the strategy will shift to interruption of polio type 3.

This information was given by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shri Dinesh Trivedi in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today.

DS/GK
(Release ID :55392)