Polio vaccine

Why in news?

• India has decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees against polio for free as a preventive measure against the wild polio virus

About Polio:

• Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly viral infectious disease that affects the nervous system.
• There are three individual and immunologically distinct wild poliovirus strains, which are genetic and virological differences:
  • Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1)
  • Wild Poliovirus type 2 (WPV2)
  • Wild Poliovirus type 3 (WPV3)
• WPV2 and WPV3 have been eradicated globally but WPV1 remains in circulation in Afghanistan and Pakistan
• The virus is transmitted by person-to-person mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, through contaminated water or food).
• It largely affects children under 5 years of age.
• The virus multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis.
• There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented through immunisation

Polio Vaccines:

• Polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio).
• Two types of vaccines are used: an inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and a weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV).
• Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV):
  • 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):
  • It is introduced as an additional dose along with the 3rd dose of DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)
• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends all children be fully vaccinated against polio
• India received polio-free certification by the WHO in 2014, after three years of zero cases

PRACTICE QUESTION

With reference to Polio, consider the following statements:

1. It is very contagious and spreads through person-to-person contact.

2. It is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer