Kohima, April 26 (DIPR): DPO (UIP/RCH), Dr. Temsuyanger, through a press release, has informed that in order to secure polio eradication forever, all live polio viruses including vaccine virus are to be eradicated.
The usual polio vaccine used so far contained type 1, type 2 and type 3 components (tOPV). World Health Organization (WHO) has declared type 2 as globally eradicated on September 20, 2015 as a follow up, type 2 component is removed from the new polio vaccine (bOPV). This is planned through a globally synchronized switch from tOPV to bOPV for routine immunization. In India, April 25th 2016 is the chosen date for switch day. In Mokokchung district all the tOPV vaccines were recollected back to the DPO (RCH/UIP) office to be destroyed. All the Cold Chain Points were issued the new bOPV vaccines to be distributed to the immunization sites. The DPO also informed that to booster immunity, another new Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) has been introduced, which will be administered to children coming for 3rd dose polio vaccine.
