Question

Vaccines against polio are among the greatest achievements in medicine of our time. Even though there are 2 vaccines against the pathogen, only one is given to humans in the US and the other one in the developing world. Explain the difference between the 2 polio vaccines and argue why one was chosen over the other (compare risks and benefits). Will we be able to eradicate polio in the near future? Defend your answer.

Answer 1

Polio , an infectious disease caused by a virus that lives in throat and intestinal track, the risk of the pol in the world still exist hence the vaccination for polio is must to our child and children for their better life.

There are two different polio vaccine used against pathogen:

1. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)(It is taken orally as drop and easily administered)

2.Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)(given through an injection)

In over the world before 2000 the polio vaccine was given orally (OPV) that was live polio virus. It is highly effective against polio virus.

In 2000 the U.S switched to the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) , using an inactive (dead) form of virus that cannot cause polio , that is given as a shot in a arm or leg .

Most people should get the polio vaccine when they are children . Children should be get the four doses of IPV at the following ages.

1.A dose at 2month.

2. A dose at 4 month.

3. A dose at 6-17 month.

4. A booster dose at 4-6 yrs.

Why one was chosen over other :

It is important to give both IPV and OPV to the child for strong protection against polio .IPV and OPV gives different kind of immune response. If our child only receives one of the vaccines they will not be as well protected.

OPV is the must vaccine that to be provide for children against polio virus and also IPV provides extra protection from polio. The extra injection helps to ensure that babies are protected during the early month of life.

Still in many countries OPV is only given to the child but according to WHO , OPV with IPV (Both together) gives good protection against all three types of polio virus (type 1, 2 and 3.) Bivalent OPV(bOPV) only act against type 1 and 3.

Different between the two polio vaccines and their risk and benefits:

	OPV	IPV
Way of giving	This was given by orally as a drop to the children	This was given as a shot to the children leg or arm
Benefits	It produces antibodies in the blood to all three type of polio virus in the event of infection.It prevents the poliovirus spread through the nervous system .	It provides important additional protection against polio. It is not live vaccine so it carries no risk of VAPP(Vaccine associated paralytic poliomyelitis). It is very safe vaccine.
Drawback	This is live attenuated vaccine . However in extreamly rare cases the live attenuated vaccine cause paralysis.	It induced very low level of immunity in intestine. Some time this is allergic to the individual.
Risk and side effects	Some times this live attenuated vaccine cause paralysis.	Some people may get sore , red spot on place where the shot is given.
Vaccine together to give good prevention.	Until polio is eradicated globally OPV is the must vaccine against polio.	Now a days only OPV not gives enough immunity against polio . OPV together with IPV gives good preventive measures against polio virus.

Eradication of polio virus:

It is one of the small limited number of diseases that can be eradicated.

The reason why it can be eradicated are :

1.Polio only affects human , not any other animal.

2. An effective and inefficient polio vaccine is available that is , OPV.

3. If at a childhood the vaccine is vaccinated that immunity against polio virus is life long.

4 In the environment the life time of virus is very short .

The polio eradication initiative (PEI) is a global program with the target of a polio free world by the year 2005 .

African region is certified as the free polio virus region.

The strategies to attain polio free world are .

* Routine immunization

*Supplimentary immunization activity

* Disease surveillance

*Mop up campaign.

Because of this kind of vaccines may we eradicate the polio virus near future.