Question

What is Pulse Polio Programme of Government of India? What is OPV? Why is it that India is yet to eradicate Polio?

Answer 1

Pulse Polio: This is a mass immunization programme to eradicate poliomyelitis from India. This programme was launched in 1995-96. This programme has been undertaken with active cooperation from government agencies, NGOs, UNICEF, and CDC.

Key Objectives of Pulse Polio:

• Not a single child should be missed.

• High level of surveillance.

•  Reporting of any new case within 14 days.

Polio booths are settled throughout the country to cover all children below 5 years of age. Volunteers are hired to administer the polio vaccine.

OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine): OPV is an attenuated vaccine. It is produced by the passage of the virus through non-human cells at a sub-physiological temperature. This produces spontaneous mutation in the viral genome.

A single vial of OPV usually contains 10-20 doses.

On 27^th March 2014, WHO declared India a polio-free nation as no new case was reported in the last 3 years.