Polio Vaccine Vs Paccine

Poliomyelitis is one of the world’s most famous diseases. It has killed over a million people throughout its emergence. As it can be dated as far back to Egyptian time. It was most prevalent in the first half of the 1900’s. The vaccine and its variations were discovered and perfected in the 1950’s. The two major variances were the inactivated poliovirus vaccine and the oral polio vaccine. Other than the success against polio the two vaccines are very different from each other. The procedures used, countries of use, cost, and consequences are some of the difference between the two. In recent studies the two vaccines are found to be even more different. As the world gets closer to eradicate polio there must be a total switch from OPV to IPV. The studies show that IPV is not only safer but more effective against OPV.

Polio is an RNA virus that is spread thorough fecal to oral pathway. Starting and multiplying in the intestines, it then spreads to the spinal/neural tissue. Where it does most of its damage, specially seen in the motor neurons. The worst case is paralysis, however only a few out of the many may experience this. Most people are asymptomatic to the disease. Symptoms of Polio are much like the flue; fever, upset stomach, and muscle weakness. Polio also has no animal reservoirs. The only test that is definitive diagnosis is a smear and culture test from the spinal tap.

Before the vaccine, unlike most diseases Polio was most prevalent in the more sanitized, medically superior, and more civilized countries and neighborhoods. Most cases of polio were during the warmer, summer months. Most susceptible to it were young boys. Although there is no cure for polio, it can be prevented by giving the polio vaccine, ideally durin...

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...ring the additional cost to upgrade the public health facilities to sustain routine and sanitary coverage of the vaccine administration. Also the counties around the OPV using counties are in risk for VAPP.

Inactivated poliovirus vaccine and the oral polio vaccine have saved many lives since their emergence in the 1950’s, back when polio was running rampant. Current poliomyelitis eradication strategies recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) focus on the early and intensive use of OPV with routine delivery of doses at birth and 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age. As the number of cases and transmission rates decrease the switch from OPV to IPV has been done. However not everyone can afford that luxury. Countries need to monitor and help each other in order to successfully fight off polio. The inactivated poliovirus vaccine provides the safest and surest route.