Vaccine-derived Polio Virus

Current Context : Recently, a case of Vaccine-derived Polio Virus (VDPV) infection has been reported from Meghalaya.

• Earlier, WHO declared India polio-free in 2014 after the last case of wild poliovirus was reported in 2011.

ABOUT VACCINE-DERIVED POLIO VIRUS (VDPV)

• It  is a rare condition that occurs when the weakened (also called attenuated) strain of poliovirus used in the oral polio vaccine (OPV) mutates and regains the ability to cause paralysis.

THREE TYPES –

• Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1)
• Wild poliovirus type 2 (WPV2)
• Wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3)

ABOUT POLIO

• Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly viral infectious disease that affects the nervous system.
• It primarily affects young children but can also impact adults.

POLIO VACCINES:

• Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) : OPV is a live attenuated vaccine that has been instrumental in reducing polio cases globally. It contains weakened but live poliovirus strains.It is given orally as a birth dose for institutional deliveries, then primary three doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks and one booster dose at 16-24 months of age.
• Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) : IPV is a killed-virus vaccine administered by injection. It does not cause VDPV.
• The first polio vaccine was made by Jonas Salk in the early 1950s.
• World Polio day is celebrated every year on 24 October.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR POLIO MANAGEMENT:

• Pulse Polio Programme : It was started in 1995 with an objective of achieving 100% coverage under Oral Polio Vaccine.
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 : It was a nationwide immunisation drive to mark the 25 years of Pulse polio programme (2019-20).
• Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) : It was launched in 1985 with the modification to ‘Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI).