Failed vaccine campaigns may lead to polio resurgence, experts warn
BMJ 2006; 333 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.333.7573.823 (Published 19 October 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;333:823All rapid responses
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Zaracostas J (1), rightly identifies the importance of ensuring a
successful campaign against polio eradication and the possible
catastrophes of a failed one. We do not quite agree with the quote by
Robert Scott, chairman of Rotary International’s “polio-plus” committee,
on the four key factors for polio eradication, in that both community
acceptance and political are major issues in India.
In India, the highest numbers of cases occur in the districts of
Western Uttar Pradesh (UP) followed by Bihar (2). A similar problem, to
the one encountered in Nigeria in late 2003, is also being seen in these
parts of India. Misleading and untrue information of a potential
association between oral polio drops and sterility is being spread amongst
many Muslim communities by various community leaders and several related
and unrelated agencies. This is leading to a widespread non-acceptance of
the programme in this particular community and consequently resulted in
the increase in the number of cases, notably in Western UP. This year too
the highest cases are from the same region (2). The stakeholders are doing
their best to manage the situation and the shift in the use of monovalent
oral polio vaccine (OPV) from the conventional trivalent OPV is once such
reflection of this.
However, without engaging the communities and without a great deal of
political will very little success will be seen in these provinces and
indeed things may shift from bad to worse.
(1). Zaracostas J. Failed vaccine campaigns may lead to
polio resurgence, experts warn BMJ 2006; 333: 823(21 October),
doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7573.823
(2). AFP Surveillance Bulletin – India. GoI/NPSP: Report for week
40, ending 7th October 2006. Available at
http://www.npspindia.org/bulletin.pdf (accessed on 23-10-2006)
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
India’s campaign against Polio Eradication Programme: Community Participation and Hard work
With my past experience of working in polio eradication programme as
Medical Officer, in India, for almost six years, I completely agree with
Robert S (2006), that it would be a humanitarian tragedy if this programme
not completed. Because it involved many people’s hard work and commitment
in rural part of India and other places, to reduce the number of polio
cases from 4,791 in 1994 to 135 in 2004 (Wikipedia). Their efforts would
go wreck and may set a bad example for future programmes, if not
completed.
However, I disagree that the programme in India hinges on community
acceptance. I have communicated with the people who had refused
immunisation for their children and in my experience community has played
a major role to convince the people who refuse the immunisation due to
various reasons, like feeing unsafe for their children to be around with
the child who is not immunised. According to me community acceptance on
the whole in India is definitely fine with few exceptional regions and
groups.
It would be disgraceful if at all there is a shift from polio
eradication programme to prevent international spread of polio. If the
polio eradication programme is not completed, it would cause more harm
than any good to the countries, fighting against the polio virus.
John Zaracostas (2006) Failed vaccine campaigns may lead to polio
resurgence, experts warn. British Medical Journal. VOL (333), p. 823.
Wikipedia. [online] [cited 26th October 2006]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_Polio>
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests