Punjab is all set to formally introduce the injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in routine immunisation from Wednesday (today) in all the 36 districts. The introduction of IPV is part of the polio eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 developed in consultation with stakeholders, polio-infected countries, partners and global advisory bodies.
The plan envisages introduction of at least one dose of IPV in the routine immunisation programmes of the 126 countries currently using trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV). Before making it part of the routine immunisation programme, the IPV was introduced in campaign in selected high risk union councils from June 8 to 16. The IPV will be given as a single dose with Pentavalent III and PCV III at children of 14 weeks of age.
With this development, the IPV formally becomes part of the larger plan for nine vaccine preventable disease, under the umbrella of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation.
Director EPI Punjab Dr Munir Ahmed said that introduction of IPV in routine immunisation goes in line with the government's strong emphasis on polio eradication. He said polio had become a national embarrassment and featured high on the government priorities hence was declared a national emergency.
"Punjab is eying 90 percent routine immunisation coverage by the end of next year and if that happens, the dream of achieving complete polio eradication may well be in sight," he added. He further said, "Multiple studies have shown that IPV given to the children who have also received OPV as well, makes the best combination to boost immunity. The IPV and the OPV go hand in hand wherever the complete eradication was achieved. The OPV still is mainly used to eradicate polio."
"This means that individual children are better protected from polio virus. That is why a child should be given one dose of IPV and continue to receive OPV as many times as it is offered," he added. No polio case has been reported from Punjab so far in the current year. The province accounted for just four cases out of a total of 306 in the country in 2014. Punjab is also leading the efforts with introduction of a number of new innovations like android-based smart phones in a bid to enhance the routine immunisation. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are only three countries battling polio currently in the world.