Injectable vaccine to provide extra protection from polio

To ensure double protection from the deadly polio virus, Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday launched an injectable vaccine to prevent the re-emergence of polio. The new vaccine will be administered in addition to polio drops to enhance protection from the deadly virus, which has chances of re-emerging.

The Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) will be introduced in the routine immunisation programme of the government to prevent the risk of re-introduction of the disease. the health minister said that though India was certified polio-free on March 27, 2014, the battle against polio is not yet over.

“The virus is still active in our neighbouring countries — Pakistan and Afghanistan. Cases of polio still occur there. So the risk of re-introduction of the disease remains, particularly through importation from these endemic countries,” Nadda said. “We are there to give them all kinds of support, including technical, experience or vaccine-related assistance. But we will have to be vigilant till the virus is eradicated globally,” Nadda said. He added, “to ensure that our children are doubly protected from polio, the IPV is being introduced into the routine immunisation programme.”