750 Million People Inoculated with Newest Polio Vaccine

To better address the evolving risk of type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and partners have deployed the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to millions of people.

The nOPV2 vaccine has shown to be more genetically stable than older polio vaccines and less likely to be associated with the emergence of cVDPV2 in low immunity settings.

This means that nOPV2 has the potential to be a significant tool to help stop polio outbreaks, says the GPEI.

There have been over 30 countries reporting polio/poliovirus outbreaks in 2023.

The U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices presentation on October 19, 2022, confirmed that nOPV2 is more genetically stable and less likely to be associated with the emergence of cVDPV2 and can provide mucosal immunity to limit the virus's spreading among Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)-vaccinated people. 

According to the GPEI on September 27, 2023, nOPV2 has been deployed under the WHO's Emergency Use Listing procedure.

Approximately 750 million doses of nOPV2 have been administered across 35 countries. An additional 15 countries have met the requirements for nOPV2 use in the event of a poliovirus outbreak. 

As of September 29, 2023, the United States has not approved the nOPV2 vaccine.

The CDC currently recommends that all children get vaccinated to protect against polio or poliomyelitis as part of the childhood vaccines.

The IPV is the only polio vaccine that has been given in the United States since 2000.