Dimapur, March 16 (MExN): A one day workshop on tOPV to bOPV Switch was conducted on March 15 for Medical Officers, Vaccinators, Cold Chain Handlers, DPMs and BPMs under Dimapur and Peren Districts at CMO’s Conference Hall, Dimapur. The workshop was conducted to prepare the health workers to switch from Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (tOPV) to Bivalent Oral Polio vaccine (bOPV). tOPV is being used now in Routine Immunizations and Polio Campaigns. It contains all 3 types of Polioviruses- type 1, 2 & 3. Since the polio type 2 has been eradicated from the world, bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) will totally replace tOPV throughout the world. This is called the Switch. It will be globally co-ordinated and in a two week window from April 2016. In India, the National Switch Day will be April 25, when bOPV will replace tOPV. Resource person Dr. Nagen Sharma, WHO Consultant presented the Global Polio Scenario and Endgame Strategy. He highlighted the National Switch Plan during the workshop.
