With the recent case of a child in Kerala who died from Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) after contracting vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV), questions arise about the safety and management of polio vaccination, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. VDPV, which emerges from mutations in the oral polio vaccine (OPV) strain, poses unique challenges compared to wild poliovirus. The case highlighted the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates and implementing newborn screening for immune deficiencies, particularly in countries using the OPV.
We spoke with Dr P J Harsha, Professor and Head of the Department of Paediatrics at Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, and Dr Pankaj Verma, Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine at Narayana Hospital (Gurugram) who provided insights into the current state of vaccine safety, preventive measures and the latest advancements in antiviral treatments. What is vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV), and how does it differ from wild poliovirus? Dr P J Harsha : Wild poliovirus is the naturally occurring virus that causes poliomyelitis, a potentially severe and paralytic disease. It exists in three serotypes (types 1, 2, and 3).
Vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV), on the other hand, originates from the weakened live poliovirus contained in the oral polio vaccine (OPV). Though OPV is a safe and effective vaccine that has played a critical role in eradicating wild polioviruses globally, in rare cases, the we.