Under the Open Vial Policy of India's Universal Immunization Programme, which vaccine is NOT covered — meaning the vial MUST be discarded at the end of the session regardless of remaining doses?
- A OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine)
- B Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine
- C BCG vaccine ✓
- D DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) vaccine
Correct answer: C. BCG vaccine
Explanation
The Open Vial Policy (OVP) allows re-use of multi-dose vials in subsequent sessions within 28 days IF: VVM has not reached discard point, the cold chain was maintained, and the vaccine was not contaminated. BCG is explicitly EXCLUDED from the OVP — BCG vials must be discarded within 3–4 hours of opening (within the session) due to the fragility of the live attenuated bacillus and the preservative-free formulation. OPV, MR, DPT, and TT are covered under OVP. Reconstituted vaccines (BCG, measles, MR, JE) that are excluded require strict session-level management.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.