This year, India was certified polio-free, after completing three years without reporting any case of wild polio. Now however, experts say the need of the hour is to switch over to the injectable polio vaccine, which is likely to be introduced into the universal immunisation programme by the third quarter of 2015. Any delay in its introduction could have negative consequences for public health.
“The oral vaccine, which contains three types of weakened polio viruses, has been successful in combating the polio menace, but without the injectable vaccine, polio eradication cannot be concluded,” says T. Jacob John, member of the WHO committee on global polio eradication. He explains that although India is free of the wild polio virus, the oral vaccine continues to cause one case of vaccine-associated paralytic polio in every 1,50,000 babies. “Earlier, the benefits of this vaccine outweighed the risks. But now, it is unethical. A shift to the injectable vaccine will eliminate this risk,” he says.
This apart, the oral polio vaccine could also potentially lead to circulating vaccine-derived polio viruses, when the vaccine virus mutates to become like the wild polio virus. “To pre-empt or combat this, we need the injectable vaccine,” he says.
Once the injectable vaccine is introduced late next year, both forms of the vaccine will be given for some months and then, in 2016, the government plans to remove one component of the oral vaccine (making it bivalent from trivalent), synchronously with the rest of the world.
In a statement, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO, says that countries must remain mindful of the risk of polio and remain vigilant to detect any case of importation of the virus. “As long as there is polio anywhere, unprotected children in all countries are at risk of getting polio,” the statement says, adding that WHO was working towards implementing the Polio End Game Strategy, which includes introducing at least one dose of injectable polio vaccine into routine immunisation and withdrawal of the oral polio vaccine in a phased manner.
A crash course in monsoon safety
Sniffles, sore throats, cough and fever are often associated with the monsoons. Doctor warn that unless care is taken, people could fall prey to more serious diseases like typhoid, hepatitis and even leptospirosis.
“The most common diseases during the monsoons are malaria, dengue, viral fevers and diarrheal diseases. The season also sees a rise in diseases like typhoid, salmonella, gastroenteritis and other water-borne diseases,” Baraneedharan, general physician from Global Hospitals says.
It is important to avoid wading through water, or otherwise ensure that you wash your feet and hands thoroughly. “Working people should ensure that they have an extra set of clothes to avoid spending the entire day in wet clothes if they get drenched. People in air conditioned offices should open up the windows as often as possible to let the air out,” he says.
According to Vamsie Mohan, physician, upper respiratory infections, toe infections, rat bite fever and fungal infections are very common. “To prevent these foot diseases, rubber boots are a good idea. Make sure that you dry your feet, between the toes and the nail bed,” he says.
Exercising through the monsoons is also important to ensure that immunity levels are high. Constant hydration with warm water is recommended.
