Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi announced its
commitment to provide 1.7 billion doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to
support the global polio eradication initiative's (GPEI) strategy to
eradicate polio this decade. The doses of OPV will be delivered through
2017 for the GPEI polio vaccination program.
In addition to OPV
campaigns, the World Health Organization's (WHO) expert group on
immunization (SAGE) recommends that all countries introduce at least one
dose of injectable inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine polio
immunization programs.
"Wiping out polio for good is in sight and Sanofi Pasteur
intends to remain an active contributor to achieve zero polio," said
Olivier Charmeil, President and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur. "We believe that
the introduction of IPV in routine polio immunization will consolidate
the tremendous progress achieved over the last decades and ensure a
polio-free world for the future. Sanofi Pasteur has been a leading
provider of polio vaccines and a supporter of the Global Polio
Eradication Initiative for over 20 years. We intend to continue to be a
major supporter of WHO and its partners to finish the job."
As a result of vaccination, polio cases have been reduced by 99% over 20 years, saving millions of children from paralysis. The GPEI has set the goal of eradicating the disease completely. Today only a few countries are still affected by polio.
"A strong and steady supply of polio vaccines will ensure that every child is fully protected against polio," said John Hewko, General Secretary of the humanitarian service organization Rotary International, a spearheading partner in the polio eradication initiative.
Polio vaccination protects one from all three types of polio virus. SAGE now recommends that all countries introduce at least one dose of IPV in routine polio immunization programs to mitigate the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). The introduction of IPV will pave the way for the cessation of oral polio virus vaccine type 2 (OPV2) since wild poliovirus type 2 has already been eliminated. It is hoped that, with this new vaccination schedule, wild poliovirus types 1 and 3 will also be eradicated within the next few years.
Source : T.O.I , 29th April 2013
As a result of vaccination, polio cases have been reduced by 99% over 20 years, saving millions of children from paralysis. The GPEI has set the goal of eradicating the disease completely. Today only a few countries are still affected by polio.
"A strong and steady supply of polio vaccines will ensure that every child is fully protected against polio," said John Hewko, General Secretary of the humanitarian service organization Rotary International, a spearheading partner in the polio eradication initiative.
Polio vaccination protects one from all three types of polio virus. SAGE now recommends that all countries introduce at least one dose of IPV in routine polio immunization programs to mitigate the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). The introduction of IPV will pave the way for the cessation of oral polio virus vaccine type 2 (OPV2) since wild poliovirus type 2 has already been eliminated. It is hoped that, with this new vaccination schedule, wild poliovirus types 1 and 3 will also be eradicated within the next few years.
Source : T.O.I , 29th April 2013
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