Oyo records vaccine-derived polio case, begins mass vaccination

Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji, said that vaccine-derived polio has been discovered in Sabo community in Ibadan North Local government following active surveillance for polio cases in the state.

Dr Olatunji, who spoke at a stakeholder dialogue and sensitization meeting on Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) 2 introduction, Outbreak Response and phase 2 COVID-19 vaccination at the Oyo State Primary Health Care board room, stated that vaccine-derived polio discovered in a stream in Sabo was an indication that the level of hygiene in the area is not enough.

According to Dr Olatunji, the vaccine-derived polio case was not suggestive that Nigeria had lost its polio-free certification but indicating the need for increased surveillance to ensure that such cases can be picked and Nigeria prevented from losing its polio-free certification.

Dr Olatunji said the state was flagging polio vaccination campaign, including an outbreak response for polio in affected communities in the state, starting from Saturday till Tuesday to give children below 59 months polio booster doses to protect children from polio within the state.

He, therefore, urged for community support to ensure that mothers ensure that their children take the vaccine that will be available in primary health centres, at designated places like the market and will be taken from house to house.

World Health Organisation representation, Mr Tobi Iyanda said a new novel oral polio type 2 vaccine is to be given during the outbreak response to the vaccine-derived polio case all across the state.

According to him, this novel oral polio type 2 vaccine is different from the monovalent oral polio vaccine type 2 that children before now receive to protect them against polio.

Mr Iyanda declared that the novel oral polio type 2 developed in 2020 is more effective, more stable, and less likely to cause the occurrence of the vaccine-derived poliovirus.

According to him, over time, the new oral polio type 2 will replace the monovalent oral polio vaccine type 2 that children require to take 4 doses as part of the immunization schedule before they are 5 years of age.

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