Logan Reed
The polio vaccine, also known as IPV (inactivated poliovirus vaccine) or OPV (oral poliovirus vaccine), is a vaccine used to prevent poliomyelitis, or polio. Poliomyelitis is a serious infection that can lead to permanent paralysis and sometimes death. The IPV is administered via injection, while the OPV is given by mouth. Both vaccines are generally safe to administer during pregnancy and for those with HIV/AIDS.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Names | Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), Salk vaccine, oral polio vaccine |
| Administration | Injection, drops in the mouth, shots |
| Dosage | 4 doses for children, 3 doses for adults |
| Age | Children, adolescents up to 18 years of age, adults |
| Safety | Safe, may cause mild redness or pain at the site of injection |
| Effectiveness | Very safe and effective, has eliminated polio from most of the world |
| Usage | Used in the US, Canada, Europe, and other countries |
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What You'll Learn
Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV)
IPV works by triggering the body's immune system to produce antibodies against all three types of poliovirus. These antibodies last a long time in the body and provide protection against the disease. If a person immunized with IPV is exposed to polio, the antibodies prevent the spread of the virus to the central nervous system, protecting against paralysis. IPV is highly effective in preventing paralytic disease caused by poliovirus and has been shown to be safe and effective in providing community protection.
In addition to routine childhood immunization, IPV is also recommended for adults who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. People who plan to travel internationally, especially to countries with a high risk of polio, should ensure they are fully vaccinated before departure. IPV may be given in combination with other vaccines, and this can be discussed with a healthcare provider.
IPV has been used in many countries since 1955 when it was developed by Dr Jonas Salk. It is the vaccine of choice in industrialized, polio-free countries due to its safety and effectiveness. While OPV (oral poliovirus vaccine) is used in some countries with a high risk of polio infection, it carries a rare risk of causing polio in unvaccinated individuals or those with weakened immune systems. IPV, on the other hand, does not carry this risk and is therefore preferred in many parts of the world.
Overall, IPV plays a crucial role in protecting individuals and communities from polio, a serious and potentially deadly disease. It is safe, effective, and recommended by public health authorities worldwide.
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Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV)
The oral polio vaccine (OPV) is a weakened poliovirus given by mouth (in the form of drops). It is safe, effective, and inexpensive, and it has been instrumental in the fight to eradicate polio. OPV is easy to administer and distribute on a large scale, as it does not require health professionals, sterile needles, or syringes. This makes it suitable for mass vaccination campaigns and transportation to hard-to-reach areas.
OPV provides immunity against all three poliovirus serotypes (types 1, 2, and 3). One dose of trivalent OPV produces immunity to all three types in about 50% of recipients. Three doses of live-attenuated OPV generate protective antibodies to all three types in more than 95% of recipients. Immunity initiated by OPV is likely lifelong, and it offers excellent protection in the intestine, the primary site of wild poliovirus entry, which helps prevent infection with the wild virus in endemic areas.
OPV has a unique ability to stop person-to-person transmission of poliovirus, which is crucial for global polio eradication. Since 1988, OPV has helped reduce global polio cases by over 99%. However, in very rare cases (approximately 1 in 2.7 million doses), the weakened vaccine virus in OPV can cause vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP). Due to this small risk, OPV has been replaced by IPV in many developed countries.
OPV is still used in some countries with a high risk of poliovirus infection, as it is low-cost and easy to administer. Monovalent OPVs (mOPV) protect against one serotype of poliovirus (type 1, 2, or 3) and are reserved for outbreak responses. Bivalent OPV (bOPV) provides protection against types 1 and 3 but not type 2. To address the risk of type 2 variant poliovirus (cVDPV2), a novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) has been developed and granted full licensure in December 2023. This next-generation vaccine is more genetically stable and less likely to cause new type 2 variant outbreaks.
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Jonas Salk's IPV
Jonas Salk's inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is a safe and effective way to protect children against polio. It was developed in the 1950s and has played a crucial role in reducing polio cases by 99%. IPV is given as a series of shots and contains a killed or inactivated poliovirus. This means that IPV cannot cause polio, and it helps the body's immune system to create antibodies to fight the disease.
The development of the polio vaccine was set in motion in 1908 when Dr Karl Landsteiner discovered that polio is caused by a virus. This sparked several decades of research and understanding of the disease, which affected children worldwide for millennia. In 1950, Hilary Koprowski tested the first successful polio vaccine, a live attenuated virus taken orally. However, it would take another five years for Jonas Salk's injectable, inactivated polio vaccine to become available.
Jonas Salk was born in 1914, amidst devastating outbreaks of polio in the United States. He began working on an influenza vaccine at the New York University School of Medicine in 1938. However, it was his work on the polio vaccine that would have a profound impact on public health. In 1952, Salk and a team at the University of Pittsburgh developed the first effective polio vaccine, which required years of subsequent testing. Finally, in April 1955, Salk's vaccine was declared "safe, effective, and potent".
The introduction of Salk's IPV was a significant milestone in the fight against polio. By 1957, cases in America had dropped by almost 90%, and by 1979, polio had been eradicated in the country. The combination of IPV and the oral polio vaccine (OPV) led to the eradication of polio in the Americas, the Western Pacific, and Europe. As of 2015, over 10 million people were walking who would otherwise have been paralysed by polio.
While OPV is easier to administer and provides longer-lasting immunity, it carries a rare risk of causing polio in people with weakened immune systems or who are not immunized. On the other hand, IPV is very safe and has been the only polio vaccine given in the United States since 2000. It is recommended that children receive four doses of IPV to protect them against severe polio disease, and it can sometimes be given in combination with other vaccines.
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Albert Sabin's OPV
Albert Bruce Sabin, born Abram Saperstejn, was a Polish-American medical researcher who dedicated his life to developing the oral polio vaccine (OPV). Sabin was born in 1906 in what was then the Russian Empire and is now Poland. He emigrated to the United States with his family in 1921 and settled in New Jersey. Initially interested in dentistry, he later turned to virology.
Sabin's oral polio vaccine was first tested outside the US from 1957 to 1959. In 1960, large-scale clinical trials of OPV were conducted on 180,000 school children in Cincinnati, Ohio. The mass immunization techniques that Sabin pioneered with his associates effectively eradicated polio in Cincinnati. Sabin's first OPV for use against type 1 polioviruses was licensed in the US in 1961, and his vaccines for types 2 and 3 were licensed in 1962.
Sabin's OPV was easier to administer than the earlier vaccine developed by Jonas Salk in 1954, and its effects lasted longer. The Sabin vaccine became the predominant method of vaccination against polio in the US for the next three decades. It broke the chain of transmission of the virus and paved the way for the potential eradication of polio.
In recognition of his pioneering work, Sabin was awarded the highest civilian honour by the USSR in 1986—the medal of the Order of Friendship Among Peoples. The Sabin Vaccine Institute was founded in 1993 to continue his legacy of developing and promoting vaccines. The institute annually awards the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal to recognise excellence in vaccinology or complementary fields.
Sabin refused to patent his vaccine, waiving commercial exploitation so that the low price would guarantee a more extensive spread of the treatment. His selflessness and dedication to protecting the health of children worldwide continue to inspire those interested in vaccine history and biography.
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IPV and OPV administration
Poliomyelitis, often referred to as polio, is a potentially serious disease that can lead to lifelong paralysis and sometimes death. There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented with safe and effective vaccination. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all children be fully vaccinated against polio.
There are two types of polio vaccines: inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). IPV is given as a series of shots and contains a killed, or inactivated, poliovirus. After IPV administration, the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, which can identify and fight the poliovirus. IPV is safe and proven to help prevent the spread of polio. Mild side effects such as redness, pain, swelling, fever, fussiness, or tiredness may occur at the site of injection and go away after a couple of days.
OPV is given by mouth as a liquid and contains a weakened live vaccine. OPV is easier to administer than IPV as it eliminates the need for sterile syringes and is thus more suitable for mass vaccination campaigns. OPV is also low-cost and provides longer-lasting immunity than IPV, making it ideal for countries with high infection risks. However, OPV is no longer used in the United States and many other countries due to the rare risk of causing polio in unvaccinated individuals or those with weakened immune systems. Side effects from OPV seen in other countries can include headache, belly pain, fever, and diarrhea.
The recommended administration of IPV and OPV depends on the country's level of immunization coverage and the risk of polio importation and transmission. In countries with endemic polio or a high risk of imported cases, the WHO recommends OPV at birth, followed by a primary series of three OPV doses and at least one IPV dose starting at 6 weeks of age, with a minimum of 4 weeks between OPV doses. In countries with high immunization coverage and low risk, the WHO suggests one or two IPV doses starting at two months of age, followed by at least two OPV doses, with a 4-8 week interval. In countries with the highest coverage and lowest risks, the WHO advises a primary series of three IPV injections, with a booster dose after six months or more if the first dose was given before two months of age.
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Frequently asked questions
The polio vaccine is also known as the poliovirus vaccine.
There are two types of polio vaccines: inactivated poliovirus (IPV) and oral poliovirus (OPV).
IPV is administered through injection.
OPV is administered by mouth as drops or on a sugar cube.
