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`Oral vaccine can eradicate polio'

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Oral polio vaccine is a safe, effective and practical method for rapid eradication of the disease in polio-endemic countries such as India, says the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP).

Addressing mediapersons here today, the president of the Kerala State branch of the IAP, Jeeson C. Unni, said that oral vaccine could eradicate polio in over 120 countries, including China, Indonesia and the US.

"This is because it produces high levels of gut (intestinal) immunity, whereby it is able to prevent polio outbreak. It is shameful that India continues to be among the six countries where the wild virus is circulating. Even Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are polio-free. Polio and rabies continue to be endemic in a few countries such as India," he said.

The feeling that the vaccine has got side effects is contrary to facts.

Multiple doses of the oral vaccine are safe for children. Parents should ensure that children below five years of age are given pulse polio on specified days.

In 10 years, the number of countries where polio was prevalent had come down from 135 to six, Dr. Jeeson said.

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