John Salk created an injectable polio vaccine in 1955. It was widely used for combating the virus of polio. Exactly nearing its 60th birthday, the injection is rapidly replacing the oral polio vaccine that was said to be painless and more effective until much more recently.
Ever since the oral polio vaccine was introduced, most of the developed and developing countries switched over to it. Slowly the oral vaccine eclipsed the demand for the injectable polio vaccine so much, so that the health experts stopped using the injectable vaccine. However, the scenario is rapidly changing in the developed world especially in the US.
End of Polio is Possible
Oral vaccine has multiple advantages over the injectable one, which is why it became instantly popular. It can be easily administered by anyone, do not require any special equipment and is relatively easier to carry. That is why; it was mostly preferred by the countries belonging to the low income and the middle-income section. Higher price has always been the major obstacle while choosing the injectable polio vaccine.
Nevertheless, latest figures suggest that the injectable vaccine has quietly made a comeback solely because it has been found to be more effective in completely eradicating the presence of poliovirus. With the oral virus, there is always 1 in 750,000 chance of being infected with the virus as a weakened virus is used for vaccination.
In case of injectable vaccine, killed poliovirus is used which guarantees complete protection against polio.
Problems with Oral Poliovirus
The health experts recently concluded that the oral virus of polio in very rare conditions can lead to infection. The experts have stated that although the wild polio has been controlled and almost eliminated by the oral vaccine, it has now been replaced by VDPV- vaccine derived poliovirus.
This has made the caregivers go back to the old injectable polio virus, as they believe it certainly offers complete protection from the polio infection.