What is vaccine-derived poliovirus?
Quick Answer
Vaccine-derived poliovirus is a rare form of poliovirus that can emerge when the weakened virus in oral polio vaccine circulates for a long time in underimmunized communities. It is uncommon but important in public health.
The Full Story
The oral polio vaccine uses a weakened live virus that is very effective at stopping transmission. In rare situations, if vaccination coverage is low, the weakened virus can circulate for long periods and genetically change as it spreads. This can lead to vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks, which are rare but serious. Because of this risk, many countries use the inactivated polio vaccine instead of, or alongside, oral vaccines. The global polio eradication effort has had to balance the huge benefits of oral vaccination with this rare complication.
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