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. 2014 Oct;4(4):223–229. doi: 10.1177/1941874414533352

Table 1.

Comparison of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV).

Property of Vaccine Oral Polio Vaccine Inactivated Polio Vaccine
Preparation Live attenuated poliovirus serotypes (Sabin types 1, 2, and 3), in a 10:1:3 ratio, respectively. Strain of each of the 3 serotypes that have been inactivated (killed) with formalin, adsorbed onto adjuvants. The final vaccine mixture contains 40, 8, and 32 d-antigen units of serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
Valency Trivalent OPV (tOPV) and monovalent, against type 1 (mOPV1) and against type 3 (mOPV3) bivalent (type 1 and type 3) OPVs (bOPVs) Only 1-type trivalent
Storage +2°C to +8°C. Should be protected from light. Any vaccine showing particulate matter, turbidity, or change in color should be discarded +2°C to +8°C. Should be protected from light. Any vaccine showing particulate matter, turbidity, or change in color should be discarded
Pathogenesis Produce a local immune response in the intestines. Mucosal immunity decreases the replication and shedding of the virus Antibodies are produced against the polio virus which provide humoral immunity, thus decreasing the replication of the virus.
Administration Through mouth as drops Intramuscularly into the upper arm or anterolateral thigh, can be administered alone or in combination with other vaccines
Recommended dosage No longer in use in polio-free countries like United States and United Kingdom. Used routinely only in polio campaigns in high risk and endemic areas A total of 5 doses of vaccine at the appropriate intervals
Vaccine efficacy Immunity from oral poliovirus vaccine is probably lifelong. OPV produces excellent gut immunity The duration of immunity with IPV is not known with certainty. Highly effective in producing immunity to poliovirus and protection from paralytic poliomyelitis. No gut immunity
Adverse effects Vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) outbreaks due to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) Adverse events following administration of IPV are very mild and transient