No Polio is Possible! The Wonders of the Polio Vaccines

Vaccinations have played a crucial role in eradicating the disease, Polio. Two vaccines, the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) and the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), have been used in order to diminish the spread of Polio. In order to eradicate the virus, the OPV vaccine has proved to be the optimal choice to prevent transmission due to its oral administration and cost effectiveness. According to the World Health Organization, it is an attenuated vaccine that induces an immune response. Therefore, not only will the person receiving the vaccine be protected, but also they cannot spread the virus. However, there are incredibly rare occurrences in which the OPV an infection called Vaccine-associated Paralytic Poliomyelitis, a virus indistinguishable from polio. As a result, global health professionals opt for this vaccine in order to achieve eradication in their respective area. 

According to the CDC, the IPV vaccine now is the only vaccine doctors administer in the United States. Mostly everyone, even immunocompromised individuals, can receive this vaccine. Since the vaccine contains dead microorganisms, each person must receive four doses of the injection before they are deemed fully protected. Even though it prevents a vaccinated person from contracting polio it does not prevent transmission. As a result, the OPV vaccine used to be administered in the United States. However, since the wildtype virus has essentially been eradicated, the CDC now recommends the IPV vaccine since there are no live-virus risks.  

Since 1988, the World Health Organization has sought to eradicate polio. Thanks to the use of the IPV and the OPV, the transmission of polio has been reduced by 99%. However, in several countries, like Pakistan and Afghanistan, there are still wild type strains present. There are several organizations, like the Polio Global Eradication Initiative, that are fighting to eliminate this awful disease. I think this organization’s goals are reasonable because there has been proven eradication in most countries all around the world. I have confidence that if people adhere to recommended CDC guidelines, and if public health officials continue their efforts to eliminate this vaccine, then polio can be eradicated in this lifetime. It is so fascinating to see the benefits of vaccines at play. The Polio vaccine, as a result, serves as an example for how vaccines effectively work to eradicate diseases.