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OPV Full Form: Polio is a dangerous viral disease. It mainly affects children. It can cause paralysis and sometimes death, but today, polio is almost gone from most countries. The reason behind this success is a simple yet powerful tool: the oral polio vaccine. The oral polio vaccine, also called OPV, has saved millions of lives. It is easy to give. It is cheap and it works very well. For many decades, OPV has been the backbone of global polio eradication efforts.
What is OPV?
The full form of OPV is oral polio vaccine. OPV is a type of vaccine. It protects against poliovirus. OPV is not given through a needle. It is taken by mouth—just two drops on the tongue. OPV contains a weakened form of the live poliovirus. This means the virus is alive, but it cannot cause disease. Instead, it trains the body to fight polio.
There are three types of poliovirus. Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. OPV can protect against one, two, or all three types. OPV is given during regular immunization visits. It is part of every child’s vaccine schedule. It is also used in mass campaigns. These are called National Immunization Days.
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How Does OPV Work?
OPV works by copying what the real virus does. The weakened virus in OPV enters the gut. It grows there, but does not harm. The body sees the virus and reacts. It builds strong immunity. This means the child will not get sick if exposed to the real virus later.
Also, the weakened virus is passed in the child’s stool. When other children touch it or come into contact, they may get immunity too. This is called community immunity or herd protection. So OPV protects not just the child but the whole community.
History of Oral Polio Vaccine
The story of OPV began in the 1950s. Dr. Albert Sabin developed the vaccine. Before OPV, there was another vaccine called IPV. That one was injected & killed the virus. Sabin’s vaccine was easier to give. No needle was needed. It could be given by anyone with a little training.
By the 1960s, OPV became the main vaccine used against polio. It was widely used in the United States, the Soviet Union, and many other countries. In 1988, the world came together to fight polio. The World Health Organization launched a global program.
It was called the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The goal was simple—end polio everywhere. OPV became the main weapon in this fight. It was easy to use and reached millions of children. Since then, OPV has been at the center of the world’s polio efforts.
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Types of Oral Polio Vaccine
Trivalent OPV was used for many years, but in 2016, it was replaced with bOPV. This is because type 2 wild poliovirus was declared eradicated. OPV comes in different types.
- Trivalent OPV (tOPV): It protects against all three types of polio.
- Bivalent OPV (bOPV): It protects against types 1 and 3 only.
- Monovalent OPV (mOPV): It protects against only one type. Either type 1, type 2, & type 3
Oral Polio Vaccine Schedule
OPV is given in multiple doses. One dose is not enough to protect fully. The vaccine is given during routine immunization and in special campaigns. In many countries, including India, the schedule is:
- The first dose is given at birth.
- This is called the zero dose.
- Next, doses are given at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks.
These are the primary doses. A booster dose is given later, between 16 and 24 months. This keeps the protection strong. During Pulse Polio campaigns, extra doses are given. These doses help protect all children under 5 years. Even if the child got earlier doses, extra OPV is still important. More doses mean better protection. It also helps stop the virus from spreading in the community.
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OPV vs IPV
There are two types of polio vaccines: OPV and IPV. OPV is taken by mouth. It contains a live but weakened virus. IPV is injected. It contains a killed virus. It is safe and cannot spread; both vaccines work well. But they work in different ways.
OPV gives strong gut immunity. This stops the virus from spreading. IPV gives strong blood immunity, but it does not stop transmission easily, and because of this, many countries use both. This is called a mixed schedule.
Advantages of OPV
The oral polio vaccine has helped fight polio worldwide. It is safe and highly effective. OPV is used in many countries. It works well in regular and emergency. Here are the main advantages of OPV.
- It is easy to give. No needles required.
- It is cheap. Poor countries can afford it.
- It helps stop the virus from spreading to others.
- It gives quick protection during outbreaks.
- It can be used in large campaigns.
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Challenges with OPV
OPV is powerful, but it is not perfect. Sometimes, the weakened virus in OPV can mutate. It may change into a form that causes paralysis. This is rare but real. It is called vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). This can happen when vaccination rates are low. The virus spreads and changes.
There are also cases of vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP). This is very rare—about one in 2.7 million doses. To solve this, many countries are switching to IPV. But OPV is still used in many areas.
Cold Chain for OPV
OPV is sensitive to heat. It must be kept cold. From the factory to the field, it needs a cold chain. The vaccine is stored in special freezers. It is carried in cold boxes. Health workers carry it in vaccine carriers with ice packs.
If OPV gets too warm, it becomes useless. So cold chain is critical. India and many countries have built strong cold chain systems. These systems support not just OPV, but many other vaccines too.
Role of OPV in India
India was once a hotspot for polio. Thousands of children were affected each year, but massive efforts changed that. Health workers reached every village and town. They went door to door with OPV. Every child under five received the vaccine.
Pulse Polio campaigns were launched. These were national drives to vaccinate all children, even if they were already vaccinated. OPV played the central role. It helped India become polio-free in 2014.
Global Success of OPV
OPV changed the world’s fight against polio. Since its use, cases have dropped by over 99%. In 1988, polio was still a global threat. There were about 350,000 cases every year. Today, only a few cases remain.
Africa is now free of wild polio. India too. Only a few countries still report cases—like Pakistan and Afghanistan. These countries face challenges. War, mistrust, and poor health systems block vaccination, but OPV is still the best hope.
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Switch from OPV to IPV
There is a small risk with OPV. It can sometimes cause vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). To avoid this, the world is slowly moving to IPV, but the change must be made carefully. IPV is safe but works differently. It protects the individual from getting sick, but it cannot stop the virus from spreading to others.
If OPV is stopped too early, outbreaks may return. That is why OPV is still used in risky areas. IPV is being added to the schedule in many places. When polio is fully gone, OPV will stop. This will also stop the risk of VDPV.
OPV in Emergencies
During a polio outbreak, OPV is used first. Emergency vaccination drives begin at once. Health teams move quickly. They travel to villages, towns, & remote areas. They give OPV to every child they find. This stops the virus from spreading. It works fast and protects many. No other vaccine can act this quickly in an outbreak.
OPV and COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many immunization services were paused. This included OPV campaigns. As a result, polio risks grew. New outbreaks happened in Africa and Asia. Now, catch-up campaigns are underway. OPV is back in use. It helps cover the missed vaccinations. The aim is to fill the immunity gap quickly. This keeps children safe from polio.
OPV and Vaccine Hesitancy
Some people fear vaccines. They may refuse OPV. This is called vaccine hesitancy. It can be due to rumors, fear, or religious beliefs. In some countries, fake news caused people to stop vaccinating. Health workers must build trust. They talk to parents. They explain the safety of OPV. Community leaders and the media help too. Without trust, even the best vaccine cannot succeed.
OPV in the Future
OPV still has a role. It will be used until polio is gone everywhere. New versions of OPV are being developed. One is called nOPV2. It is a more stable form. It is less likely to turn into VDPV. The goal is to keep using OPV where needed. And slowly move to IPV after that. The end goal is a polio-free world. No virus. No vaccine. Just memories.
OPV Full Form FAQs
How is OPV given?
OPV is given by mouth. Just two drops are used per dose.
What is the difference between OPV & IPV?
OPV is given orally and contains live virus. IPV is injected and contains a killed virus.
Why is OPV used in campaigns?
OPV is simple to give. Just two drops on the tongue. It starts working quickly. This makes it ideal for large immunization campaigns.
What is the zero dose of OPV?
It is the first OPV dose given at birth, before the regular schedule begins.
