Under the revised Open Vial Policy (OVP) in the National Immunization Schedule, which of the following vaccines does NOT follow the OVP (i.e., opened vials must be discarded after the session)?

• A OPV
• B Hepatitis B (in multi-dose vials)
• C BCG ✓
• D DPT

Explanation

Under India's Open Vial Policy, certain vaccines can be retained and used in subsequent sessions (within 4 weeks) if VVM is intact, cold chain maintained, not expired, aseptic technique used, and no contamination occurred. These include: OPV, Liquid Pentavalent, TT, Hepatitis B, and DPT. BCG is explicitly excluded from OVP because opened BCG vials must be discarded after 3 hours of reconstitution due to heat sensitivity and risk of loss of viability. Reconstituted lyophilized vaccines (BCG, MMR, MR, JE) are excluded from OVP.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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