Mon, March 20 (MExN): As part of the global efforts towards total eradication of polio, trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) currently being used, which contains all three types of polio viruses (type 1, 2 & 3), is being replaced with bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV).
According to a press release received here, bOPV does not contain wild polio virus (type 2 virus) since the strain has been eradicated, globally. The bOPV will contain polio viruses- type 1 & 3 only. All tOPV will be withdrawn, replaced and destroyed in a globally coordinated switch within a two week window in April 2016, the release said.
In this regard, district level workshop on trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) to bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) was conducted on March 18 in Mon district at Chief Medical Officer’s office for Medical Officers, nurses, vaccinators, cold chain point handlers and Block Programme Managers.
The workshop was conducted by Dr Boroah, WHO, National Polio Surveillance Programme along with Dr Pearson, UNICEF Consultant. The topics discussed were global polio scenario and endgame strategy, National Switch Plan: Overview, components and timelines, roles and responsibilities and online tracking of tOPV, bOPV and IPV.
In Kiphire, district level workshop on trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) to bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) switch was held at Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) office on March 19. The workshop, attended by programme officers, CMO staffs and block level officers, was held to carry out the switch from tOPV to bOPV successfully in the district, according to a press release from Imnasenla Pongener, District Media Officer, CMO office, Kiphire.
Dr. Nagen Sarmah, SMO, WHO from Assam, the resource person, gave an overview on the national switch plan, components and timelines, and a detailed presentation on the global scenario, polio endgame strategy and online tracking of tOPV, bOPV and IPV.
The national switch from tOPV to bOPV date is April 25, 2016, where use of tOPV will be stopped, removed from cold chain and sent for disposal. The switch to bOPV will affect both routine immunization and polio campaigns. The district level workshop will be followed by block level workshop which will be conducted by the respective block-level Medical Officers and Block Programme Managers.
