Why is the OPV Vaccine Given?
The OPV (oral polio vaccine) is given to protect against polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease. Its primary purpose is to contribute to the global effort to eradicate polio.
The OPV is an extremely effective and safe vaccine. Different versions protect against one, two, or all three types of poliovirus (types 1, 2, and 3). [Source: The oral polio vaccine (OPV) is safe and extremely effective, and the most common kind of vaccine used in the fight to eradicate polio.]
- Ease of Administration: A significant advantage of OPV is its oral administration. This eliminates the need for trained healthcare professionals, sterile needles, and complex cold chain systems, making it ideal for widespread vaccination campaigns, particularly in remote areas. [Source: OPVs are administered orally and do not require health professionals, sterile needle syringes or a complex cold chain system. As such, OPVs are easy to… ]
- Mass Vaccination Efforts: Over ten billion doses of OPV have been administered to nearly three billion children globally in the past decade, highlighting its crucial role in large-scale polio eradication initiatives. [Source: Over the past ten years, more than 10 billion doses of OPV have been given to nearly three billion children worldwide.]
- Multiple Doses Required: Because of its lower immunogenicity compared to the IPV (inactivated polio vaccine), multiple doses of OPV are typically given to young children in areas where polio is prevalent. [Source: The low immunogenicity of OPV requires multiple doses to be given each year to children who are less than five years old in areas where poliomyelitis is most… ]
- Live, Weakened Virus: The OPV contains live, weakened poliovirus strains. [Source: OPV is a safe and effective vaccine that contains a combination of one, two, or three strains of live, weakened poliovirus, and is given in the form of oral… ]
While the OPV has been instrumental in reducing polio cases globally, it's important to note that newer strategies are focused on phasing out the OPV due to the rare risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus.
