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The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially prequalified the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) after three years of being granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
Developed with contributions from scientists at the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the nOPV2 has undergone rigorous testing and has proven effective in immunized populations.
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The nOPV2 is a modified version of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) designed to specifically target poliovirus type 2. This modification aims to reduce the risk of vaccine-derived outbreaks, which can occur when the weakened virus in the vaccine circulates in under-immunized populations, potentially regaining the ability to cause paralysis.
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Key genetic modifications were thoroughly tested through pre-clinical methods before clinical development, ensuring the vaccine’s effectiveness against polio while minimizing the potential for the virus to mutate.
The WHO’s decision to prequalify the nOPV2 comes after the distribution of 950 million doses globally, reinforcing the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
This prequalification status streamlines access for member countries without the stringent criteria previously mandated under the Emergency Use Listing.
Polio, primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water, poses a significant threat to infants and young children, potentially resulting in severe paralysis or fatality.
Oral polio vaccines, including the nOPV2, have played a crucial role in reducing polio cases globally, and their characteristic of not requiring stringent cold storage facilitates immunization efforts in remote areas.
This decision represents a pivotal step forward in strengthening global immunity against polio, emphasizing the collective commitment to ensuring that children worldwide receive safer and more accessible polio vaccines.
