World Polio Day
Every year the World Polio Day is celebrated on October 24. The day is celebrated to increase the awareness to eradicate polio. It was established by the Rotary International. It is an international organization that aims to provide humanitarian services by bringing together business professional and other people together.
Why on October 24?
The World Polio Day is celebrated on October 24 to mark the birth of Jonas Stalk. Jonas Stalk is the first American virologist who developed the polio vaccine. However, the oral polio vaccine (OPV), that is now widely used was developed by Albert Sabin. Albert developed the OPV based on Stalk’s inactivated vaccine. The OPV invention led to the establishment of GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative).
What is Polio?
Polio is a viral disease. There is no cure for Polio. However, it can be prevented through immunization.
Polio Vaccine in India
The OPV was first introduced in India in 1979-80. In India, the vaccine is administered in the following way:
- Birth: OPV zero
- 6 weeks: OPV – 1 and IPV – 1
- 10 weeks: OPV – 2 and IPV – 2
- 14 weeks: OPV – 3 and IPV – 3
- 15 to 18 months: OPV – 4 and IPV – B1
- 5 years: OPV – 5
IPV is Injectable Polio Vaccine. It is injected only by trained professionals. OPV is generally preferred over IPV as it is in inexpensive and also easy to administer.
India became Polio free
India became polio free in 2014. The World Health Organisation awarded polio-free certificate to India in 2014. The last case of polio in India was found in 2011.
World Polio Day 2021
In 2021, the World Polio Day was celebrated under the following theme
Theme: Delivering on a Promise
World Polio Day 2019
It marked a milestone in polio eradication. This is because, in 2019, Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication declared Wild Polio Virus Type 3 as globally eradicated.
Current Scenario
There are three immunologically distinct polio virus strains. They are Wild Polio Virus type 1, Wild Polio Virus Type 2 and Wild Polio Virus Type 3. The WPV 2 and WPV 3 strains have been eradicated completely. However, WPV 1 is still prevalent in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
