'0' OPV / '0' Dose (Zero dose)

In late 90's we are hearing about '0' OPV . To start with '0' meant one which is not entered in the immunization card. It can be administered on the day of birth ( 0 day) or within 2 weeks so that there will be a gap of 4 weeks between the 2 drops of potent OPV given in this period and the first dose to be given at or after 6 weeks as per NIS (National Immunization Schedule ) Since the meaning of '0' is not being entered in the RI Card, if a child could not get this within the first two weeks it can be still administered after 3rd dose (14 weeks) or along with Measles as the child after 3rd dose of DPT/OPV/HepB comes to the facility/vaccination center for receiving measles vaccine though administering on '0' day is still the better choice. In medical college hospitals it is found that 2 drops are administered before shifting from the labor room to the post-natal ward ( Photo taken by me in 2001 in the labor ward of KIMS Hubli - Karnataka is attached, this was shared with the MOs in their monthly meeting-soon it became the practice in the neighboring districts) . Currently printed RI Cards have provision for entering this data and hence it is no more the '0' of olden days butthe 'Hero'.in preventing POLIO and VAPP. It has now become a fashion to use the same terminology for the Birth dose of HepB. In the latter case the objective is different and hence if the 'Birth dose' can not be given at birth it is not recommended to be given at a later date as 4 th dose. I found this gap among health care providers hence thought of sharing his with the viewers.