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Polio Vaccines: IPV and OPV - The Dual Defense
26 Oct
Summary
- IPV and OPV vaccines offer complementary protection against polio.
- Vaccination is crucial to eradicate polio, with no known cure.
- Routine immunisation and campaign doses are vital for protection.
World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24, underscores the paramount importance of vaccination in the global effort to eradicate poliomyelitis. The theme for World Polio Day 2026 is "One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio." Polio, a viral infection, can lead to permanent paralysis or death, with vaccination being the sole defence as no cure exists.
India has remained free of wild poliovirus since 2011, but continued vaccination is crucial due to global circulation. The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), administered via injection, develops protective antibodies. The oral polio vaccine (OPV), given as drops, also builds intestinal immunity to curb virus transmission. Both vaccines play complementary roles in polio prevention.
Adherence to the national immunisation schedule is vital, which includes both IPV and OPV doses for children. This schedule includes doses at birth, 6, 10, and 14 weeks, with a booster at 16 to 24 months for OPV, and fractional IPV doses at 6 and 14 weeks. Additional OPV doses during Pulse Polio campaigns are important, even if routine vaccinations are up-to-date. While no vaccine offers absolute protection, completing the recommended doses provides robust defence against paralytic polio. Missed doses can leave children vulnerable, emphasizing the ongoing importance of routine and campaign immunisations.
