Dear all I encountered operational challege were during SIA, specifically OBR using mOPV2 antigen. I observed that the fixed post team were given only bOPV which is the right antigen for routine while ignoring the purpose of the campaign (mOPV2 not given). They were intructed to give both mOPV2 and bOPV concurrently in other to ensure children received RI and SIA doses. When we reffered to the stakeholders it was revealed that guideline stipulated that, child should receive only mOPV2...

Dear esteemed viewers On the eve of Karnataka State Raising day (Kannada Rajyotsva), KVG team wishes to share the attached for caring the children of Karnataka and beyond. India is committed: - baby Rukhsar was the last case of Poliomyelitis due to wild polio virus in Jan 2011, - it got the certification of Polio Eradication in March 2014 for which entire world congratulated the country. Karnataka is even more committed, and had the last case of polio due to wi...

WHO has released the updated surveillance standards for more than 20 vaccine-preventable diseases. Each disease is its own self-contained chapter, available in color and in black and white (for ease of printing).  There is also an introductory chapter detailing some of the basics of surveillance.  French and Russian translations will be available in the coming months.  

 Dear all, India is more committed, last case of WPV1 was in Jan 2011, along with other 10 countries got the certificate of eradication in March 2014. But as long as there is wild virus circulating in any part of the world, threat exists and may revert back to pre-eradication era as opined by the experts in polio. Hence India is conducting 2 rounds of Pulse Polio [NID] on 28 Jan 2018 and 11 March 2018. In Karnataka, the strategy is to administer 2 drops of Oral Polio V...

Dear viewers  For some long standing problems, solution can be very siimple - we have to just do it. For saving the children from the lethal Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs), they are to be vaccinated timely, with all the vaccines included in the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) and also optional vaccines applicable to the country. In India, for attaining Full Immunization (FIC), a child has to receive one dose of BCG, 3 doses of DPT (now included in Pentavalent...

As part of the WHO African region efforts to improve immunization and surveillance performances in terms of quality, effectiveness, efficiency, coverage and equity and in order to strengthen the capacity of policy makers and health providers in countries, there is a need for accurate data in order to gauge the effectiveness of existing policies and programs in health care system to make it more accessible and reliable. Guided by the WHO regional office, the IVD cluster of the Inter-co...

Dear all  We wish to share the activity held in our college (KVG Medical College & Hospiatal) on 24 October 2017 with the readers.  On 24th October 2017, Rotary - Sullia branch in collaboration with KVG Medical College Hospital & IMA Sullia observed “World Polio Day”. Dr K.V. Chidananda, Medical Director, being a Surgeon is a strong supporter of all National Health Programmes, especially Immunization, Polio Eradication, MR campaigns. Rtn. Dr Sudhakar Bhat, a se...

A new release of ICE (v1.8.1.0) is now available. (Download ICE v 1.8.2.0) The release includes the following changes: Updates to the Polio Vaccine Group and the Meningococcal ACWY Va...

Dear viewers Short supply of vaciines requiring multiple doses is one of the causes of accentuating negeative dropout rate, making the indicator invalid for programme review. India introduced two fractional doses of 0.1mL intra-dermal IPV in the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) since April 2016 as an end game strategy of Polio Eradication. It is supplied as multi dose vial of 50 doses per vial [0.1mL per dose – 5mL vial] & 25 doses [0.1mL per dose – 2.5mL]. From th...

Dear viewers Sharing the following with the viewers who are the true Polio Eradicators / planners / managers / authorized implementers & policy makers of the programme Good intentions alone are not enough for the successful outcome. Intention of healing is always good but it can produce stricture with consequent obstruction and dilatation of proximal part leading to long term complications. Since April 2016, GOI introduced two doses of Inactivated Polio Vaccine as an e...

A Supplement on EPI in Ethiopia recently published in the Pan African Medical Journal. http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/series/27/2/...

HLN has released a new version of its ICE Open Source Immunization Evaluation and Forecasting software (v 1.7.1.0) on February 24, 2017. As always, the most recent version of open source Immunization Calculation Engine (ICE) can be downloaded from the Downloads page on the ICE wiki. This new release of ICE (v 1.7.1.0) has the following new additions & changes: Update to logic that determines whe...

The upcoming supplement "The Future of Immunization in Africa Supplement", guest-editored by Bob Davis (Am Red Cross) , Helen Rees (Wits U) and Steve Cochi (GID, CDC), is still open for submission. The supplement will be published in mid 2017 in the Pan African Medical Journal. Submit your manuscript now for consideration. Follow the link below for more about the supplement http://www.panafrican-med-journ...

The SAGE October 2016 meeting report has been published in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record. SAGE reviewed relevant data and evidence, advised and made recommendations on various complex and critical issues including: Global Vaccine Action Plan: 2016 mid-term review of progress and recommendations Maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) and broader tetanus prevention Measles and rubella elimination Hepatitis B vaccination Schedules and strategies for human papillomavi...

Dear all
I take this opportunity to share the following with the viewers as many of them are in the authorized post who can daringly and decisively "move faster" than the VPDs can kill our children / resurgence of wild virus & or cVDPVs in polio free Country / States as globally witnessed in the past.
India is the 2nd most populous country in the world, inspite of innumerable hurdles it could eradicate polio and got certified by 2014 along with other 10 countries of SE...

As many of you know, the switch to bOPV has been completed in all 155 countries and territories that were using tOPV. This has been a great achievement that brings us even closer to polio eradication!
Based on the country validation reports that WHO received, approximately 140,000 health facilities were visited by monitors during a period of 2 weeks in April. During the same period, more than 15,000 district, 3500 regional, and 267 national stores were also visited to ensure all t...

Dear Colleagues,
A new e-learning course from GPEI is online now at UNICEF/AGORA.
The course is highly recommended to all polio consultants. It will help to build capacity of program managers in handling polio vaccines during supplementary immunization activities (SIA). This dynamic and interactive course builds on the "GPEI/UNICEF Guidance note on Cold Chain Logistics & Vaccine Management during polio SIA"...

Dear viewers
Out of inquisitiveness, we studied the usage of the First IPV vial of 5 facilities and got many things to learn from the service providers of 3 attached planning units, one First Referral Unit and the vaccination clinic of our own College. These lessons are universal and hence can certainly help the policy makers to make necessary revisions / refresh training for the benefit of innocent infants.
Following are the observations:

Average benefi...

The SAGE April 2016 meeting report has been published today in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record. SAGE reviewed relevant data and evidence, advised and made recommendations on various complex and critical issues including the:

Use of dengue vaccine;
Progress towards polio eradication;
Implementation of immunization in the context of Health Systems Strengthening and Universal Health Coverage;
Second-year-of-life immunization platform;
Missed opportunities...

From 17 April to 1 May, the globally synchronised switch from trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) to bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) is taking place in 155 countries and territories. This will be followed by an intensive monitoring and validation phase through to 18 May.
To follow progress as countries stop use of tOPV and complete their national validation reporting requirements, a live web site has been launched to share real time...

Dear viewers Context: India in collaboration with development partners like WHO/UNICEF/USAID/MCHIP etc has made remarkable advances in the last ten years: introduction of Measles 2nd dose, HepB vaccine including Birth dose vaccine, JE 2 doses, Pentavalent vaccine, year 2012-13 declared as year of Intensified Routine Immunization, India with SEARO declared as Polio Free, launching of Mission Indradhanush – the flagship programme of India. Karnataka Piloted Immunogram ...

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) convened by WHO on 20 October 2015 has confirmed that the globally coordinated withdrawal of the type 2 component in the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) will take place in April 2016. SAGE’s landmark decision follows the endorsement by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2015, when Ministers of Health from 194 member states adopted a resolution on the global effort to eradicate polio, as part of the Polio Endgame Strategy...

WHO recommends 2 temperature ranges for keeping all vaccines at health facilities (+2C +8C) and (-15C -25C) for OPV above district level. The rationale for using first range is explained in “Thermostability of vaccines”. What is the reason for use of second range (-15C -25C) for OPV and some freeze-dried vaccines? Could (-5C -15C) or (-10C -20C) or other T range work instead?...

The September 2015 Vaccine Information Management System (VIMS)Report on Global Vaccine Introductionfrom IVAC at Johns Hopkins is now available

Thirty countries have now introduced IPV vaccine as part of objective 2 of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan. In August, the second of the polio endemic countries, Pakistan, introduced IPV nationally. There are now 30 countries that have introduced the vaccine. Nigeria, the other endemic country to introduce IPV has now also successfully gone one year without a case of reported wild poliovirus. To document the experience of early adopters of IPV, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Sch...

Well-planned, adequately funded communications affect the success of immunization services and are particularly needed to achieve vaccination coverage goals and maintain trust in vaccines. A communications plan and its activities – such as media briefings, stakeholder engagement, and social mobilization – all should be guided by research findings, carefully planned, and systematically implemented, integrated within the overall immunization programme plan or vaccine introduction plan. To s...

In its January 2015 meeting, the WHO Executive Board called on all Member States to accelerate preparation for a globally coordinated switch from trivalent to bivalent OPV in April 2016. The Board’s request follows the WHO SAGE announcement in October 2014 that preparations are on track for this important milestone towards achieving polio eradication. The withdrawal of OPV is a critical step within objective 2 of the

Unknown gunmen on Saturday the 28th of December 2013 opened indiscriminate fire on entering a hospital and fled from the scene. Subsequently, one polio worker, Zahid Gul, was killed on the spot whereas ward orderly Niqab Khan and a woman sustained severe injuries. Meanwhile, policemen reached the site of incident and cordoned off the area while a search operation went underway to apprehend those responsible. Polio workers, including females, have been targeted in Matni earlier as well. No gr...

Wild Polio virus type 1 (WPV1) stills exists in Quetta as samples collected from the city's sewage system suggested persistence of the virus in the environment. The detection of polio virus has rung alarming bells with potential threat for millions of children of below the age of five in the city. The fresh sewage samples collected by the World Health Organisation (WHO) experts from Sur Pul area of Kharotabad were found positive for the wild polio virus type 1. Quetta the capital city of ...

I guess some of you would have followed recent developments around wild polio virus circulation in Syria where they are now clinical cases being reported. see http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_10_29/en/index.html I am trying to gather guidances, publications, reports of polio intervention among refugees groups coming from countries with evidence of WPV circulation to polio-free countries (e.g. i...