The news is about the resurgence of the poliovirus in major cities of Afghanistan and Pakistan
due to vaccine hesitancy, which threatens to derail the World Health Organization’s (WHO)
Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Despite successful eradication efforts in most regions,
especially in Africa, the virus persists in these countries, leading to concerns that the WHO
will miss its target of eradicating polio globally by the end of 2024. This setback is notable
considering the historical development of polio vaccines by researchers like Jonas Salk and
Albert Sabin, whose altruistic decision not to patent their vaccines facilitated widespread
vaccination efforts worldwide.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Despite successful efforts elsewhere, this setback may cause the WHO to miss its 2024
deadline for global polio eradication. The initiative, driven by historic vaccines developed by
Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, aimed to combat polio globally with their respective inactivated
(IPV) and oral (OPV) vaccines, both crucial in the fight despite differing methods and
protections.
WHAT’S MEAN BY IPV AND OPV ?
❖ IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine):
Type: Inactivated vaccine prepared by killing poliovirus strains with formaldehyde.
Administration: Given through injection (intramuscular or subcutaneous).
Immunity Mechanism: Stimulates systemic immunity by inducing antibodies in the
bloodstream.
Safety: Cannot cause polio because the virus is killed. No risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus.
Usage: Used in countries where wild poliovirus transmission has been interrupted to prevent
the rare risk of vaccine-associated paralytic polio.
Advantages: Safe for immunocompromised individuals. Stable and does not require cold
chain storage like OPV.
Disadvantages: Requires trained personnel for administration. More expensive than OPV.
❖ OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine):
Type: Live attenuated vaccine containing weakened poliovirus strains.
Administration: Given orally, usually as drops.
Immunity Mechanism: Induces both systemic and mucosal immunity, providing protection
in the intestines where poliovirus replicates.
Safety: Extremely rare cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus can occur when the weakened
virus mutates and causes paralysis.
Usage: Used widely in global polio eradication efforts due to ease of administration and
superior mucosal immunity.
Advantages: Easy to administer, requires no needles or trained personnel in remote areas.
Provides community protection (herd immunity).
Disadvantages: Requires careful handling to prevent vaccine-derived cases. Less suitable
for immunocompromised individuals.
These vaccines have been pivotal in reducing global polio cases significantly, with different
countries adopting strategies based on their healthcare infrastructure and disease
prevalence.
Inactivated vaccines, also known as killed vaccines, are prepared by killing the disease-causing pathogen (virus or bacteria) using heat, chemicals (such as formaldehyde), or radiation.
NEWS OVERVIEW:
➢ The news highlights the challenges and recent developments regarding the
eradication of polio, focusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the virus has
reappeared in major cities due to vaccine hesitancy. This resurgence poses a
significant setback to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Polio
Eradication Initiative, which aimed to eliminate polio globally by the end of 2024.
➢ Historically, the ability to grow the poliovirus in non-nerve cells, achieved by
scientists like John F. Enders, Thomas Weller, and Frederick Robbins in 1948, was a
breakthrough for developing polio vaccines. This discovery overcame a major
obstacle in vaccine research, allowing mass production of the poliovirus for vaccine
development.
➢ While polio has been successfully eradicated in most parts of the world, including
Africa since 2020, its persistence in Afghanistan and Pakistan highlights ongoing
challenges such as misinformation, conflict, poverty, and limited healthcare access.
These factors contribute to vaccine hesitancy, hindering vaccination efforts and
jeopardizing the achievement of global eradication goals.
➢ Two vaccines, developed nearly simultaneously by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin in the
mid-20th century, played pivotal roles in combating polio. Salk’s inactivated polio
vaccine (IPV) and Sabin’s oral polio vaccine (OPV) differ in administration method and
immune response. (IPV) induces systemic immunity when injected into muscle,
while OPV, administered orally, triggers a mucosal immune response in the gut. Both
vaccines have been crucial in various vaccination strategies worldwide, with many
countries using a combination of IPV and OPV based on local epidemiological
conditions.
➢ Despite differences in efficacy and safety profiles, both Salk and Sabin chose not to
patent their vaccines, enabling widespread distribution and contributing significantly
to global vaccination efforts against polio.
➢ The resurgence of polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan underscores the importance of
addressing vaccine hesitancy and ensuring comprehensive vaccination coverage to
achieve global polio eradication. The WHO’s initiative faces challenges in these
regions, emphasizing the need for renewed efforts and international cooperation to
meet eradication targets by addressing socio-political and healthcare access issues
effectively.
PYQ:
✓ Prelims 2019: Consider the following statements:
1. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by the
World Health Organization, Rotary International, and the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
2. In India, children in the age group of 1-3 years are given pulse polio immunization.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1
and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: Both 1 and 2
✓ Prelims 2016: Consider the following statements:
1. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is administered intradermally.
2. Pulse Polio Programme is to eradicate poliomyelitis in India by vaccinating all
children under the age of five years against poliovirus.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c ) Both 1
and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
✓ Mains 2015 (General Studies Paper 3):
“Discuss the role of World Health Organization in the global eradication and control
of Poliomyelitis.”
(This question indirectly pertains to inactivated vaccines because the World Health
Organization (WHO) is involved in promoting the use of Inactivated Polio Vaccine
(IPV) as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)).
The World Health Organization (WHO), established in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It plays a pivotal role in global health governance by setting norms, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and promoting international health policies. WHO’s priorities include combating diseases, advancing universal health coverage, and addressing global health challenges through research and technical support to member states. Governed by the World Health Assembly, it operates with a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a public- private partnership launched in 1988, aiming to eradicate polio worldwide. Led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it coordinates vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and research efforts. GPEI has made significant progress, reducing polio cases by over 99% globally. However, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy and conflict zones persist in achieving complete eradication.
➢ While polio has been successfully eradicated in most parts of the world, including
Africa since 2020, its persistence in Afghanistan and Pakistan highlights ongoing
challenges such as misinformation, conflict, poverty, and limited healthcare access.
These factors contribute to vaccine hesitancy, hindering vaccination efforts and
jeopardizing the achievement of global eradication goals.
➢ Two vaccines, developed nearly simultaneously by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin in the
mid-20th century, played pivotal roles in combating polio. Salk’s inactivated polio
vaccine (IPV) and Sabin’s oral polio vaccine (OPV) differ in administration method and
immune response. (IPV) induces systemic immunity when injected into muscle,
while OPV, administered orally, triggers a mucosal immune response in the gut. Both
vaccines have been crucial in various vaccination strategies worldwide, with many
countries using a combination of IPV and OPV based on local epidemiological
conditions.
➢ Despite differences in efficacy and safety profiles, both Salk and Sabin chose not to
patent their vaccines, enabling widespread distribution and contributing significantly
to global vaccination efforts against polio.
➢ The resurgence of polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan underscores the importance of
addressing vaccine hesitancy and ensuring comprehensive vaccination coverage to
achieve global polio eradication. The WHO’s initiative faces challenges in these
regions, emphasizing the need for renewed efforts and international cooperation to
meet eradication targets by addressing socio-political and healthcare access issues
effectively.
PYQ:
✓ Prelims 2019: Consider the following statements:
1. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by the
World Health Organization, Rotary International, and the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
2. In India, children in the age group of 1-3 years are given pulse polio immunization.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1
and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: Both 1 and 2
✓ Prelims 2016: Consider the following statements:
1. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is administered intradermally.
2. Pulse Polio Programme is to eradicate poliomyelitis in India by vaccinating all
children under the age of five years against poliovirus.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c ) Both 1
and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
✓ Mains 2015 (General Studies Paper 3):
“Discuss the role of World Health Organization in the global eradication and control
of Poliomyelitis.”
(This question indirectly pertains to inactivated vaccines because the World Health
Organization (WHO) is involved in promoting the use of Inactivated Polio Vaccine
(IPV) as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)).
