Poliomyelitis: Droplet vaccine will be discontinued in 2024 – 07/07/2023 – Health

The Ministry of Health announced this Friday morning (7), in a joint meeting with the SBP (Brazilian Society of Pediatrics), the exclusive application of the inactivated version of the polio vaccine from the second half of 2024.

according to Sheet anticipated, the folder will end the application of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), the famous “droplet”, and replace it with the inactivated polio vaccine (VIP), which is injectable and considered safer.

The change, however, will not remove the image of Zé Gotinha from vaccination campaigns.

What is the difference between vaccines?

OPV is made up of live, weakened polio virus. Its presence in the body leads to the production of antibodies and then it is eliminated in the feces.

However, a rare situation may occur. After being eliminated, the virus can mutate in the environment and become capable of making those who are not vaccinated sick.

The injectable vaccine, known as Salk after the name of its creator, the American doctor Jonas Salk, is produced with the virus inactivated and cannot cause the disease.

Is the droplet booster safe?

Yes. According to the Ministry, of the 764 million doses of OPV administered to children across the country between 1989 and 2012, there were only 50 cases of vaccine polio.

In addition, since 2016, the vaccination schedule for children under five consists of three doses of the inactivated virus vaccine —at two, four and six months—, with a droplet booster at 15 months and four years of age. With the introduction of this VIP/VOP sequence, there were no more cases of vaccine polio in the country.

So why switch?

According to Antônio Flávio Vitarelli Meirelles, director of IFF/Fiocruz (Fernandes Figueira National Institute of Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health), the measure is of great importance for people with severe immunodeficiency, eliminating any risk of developing acute flaccid paralysis attributable to VOP.

BRL 150 million for vaccination

In addition to replacing polio vaccines, the Ministry announced during the meeting a transfer of R$ 150 million to states and municipalities so that they can identify their main bottlenecks in vaccination.

According to Éder Gatti, director of the PNI (National Immunization Program), the objective is for the budget to be applied in local mappings that generate data to guide the planning of multivaccination campaigns in each state.

The resources will be made available in two installments: 60% before planning and 40% after the execution of the action plans.

Among the measures recommended by the ministry for local application are specific communication campaigns, with recognized and admired personalities in each region, active search for patients and vaccination stations with different schedules.

The expectation is that the measures will be adopted from July, with a specific schedule:

state	multivaccination period
Amapá	July 15th to 30th
roraima	August 12th to 26th
Maranhao	August 12th to 26th
For	August 12th to 26th
Rio de Janeiro	August 26th to September 9th
Holy Spirit	August 26th to September 9th
Federal District	August 26th to September 9th
São Paulo	September 30th to October 14th
Mato Grosso	September 9th to 23rd
Mato Grosso do Sul	September 9th to 23rd
Rondônia	September 9th to 23rd
Paraná	October 14th to 28th
Santa Catarina	October 14th to 28th
Rio Grande do Sul	October 14th to 28th
Alagoas	September 23rd to October 7th
Piauí	September 23rd to October 7th
Ceará	September 23rd to October 7th
Paraíba	September 23rd to October 7th
Goias	September 30th to October 14th
Tocantins	September 30th to October 14th
bahia	October 7th to 21st
Pernambuco	October 7th to 21st
sergipe	October 7th to 21st
Minas Gerais	October 21st to November 4th