The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) bivalent (types 1 and 3) replaced the trivalent OPV in India's routine immunization in which year, and what was the primary reason?
- A 2016; elimination of wild poliovirus type 2 worldwide since 1999 ✓
- B 2015; superior immunogenicity of bOPV against types 1 and 3
- C 2019; World Polio Eradication Initiative mandate
- D 2014; high cost of trivalent vaccine production
Correct answer: A. 2016; elimination of wild poliovirus type 2 worldwide since 1999
Explanation
India and globally, trivalent OPV (tOPV) was replaced by bivalent OPV (types 1 and 3) in April 2016 as part of the synchronized global OPV switch, coinciding with introduction of at least one dose of IPV. The rationale was that wild poliovirus type 2 had been eradicated globally since 1999 and tOPV's type 2 component was causing vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) outbreaks.
Reference: Ghai Essential Pediatrics, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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