polio day on March 3 March 2024

The polio vaccine is used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio), a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus.

There are two main types of polio vaccines:Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV): This vaccine contains an inactivated (killed) virus and is given as an injection.

 IPV is used in many countries around the world as part of their routine immunization programs. It's safe, effective, and does not cause polio.

 IPV stimulates the immune system to recognize and fight poliovirus if the vaccinated individual ever comes into contact with it.Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV): This vaccine contains a weakened form of the poliovirus and is administered orally (by mouth).

 OPV is easy to administer and very effective in providing community protection, as the vaccine-virus can spread from vaccinated individuals to others in the community, indirectly vaccinating others. 

However, in very rare cases, the weakened virus in OPV can mutate and cause vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) outbreaks.Both vaccines have played critical roles in the effort to eradicate polio worldwide