Implications of the introduction of the new killed poliomyelitis vaccine into the expanded programme of immunization (EPI)
Martin, J.F.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine 37(3): S55-S59
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3232 PMID: 4084367 Document Number: 254309
Use of the oral live poliomyelitis vaccine in the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) requires that the children to be vaccinated must be seen four times during the first ten months of life. In practice this requirement presents considerable problems for parents as is evident from the high drop-out rate. Introduction of the new inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine into vaccination programmes enables children to be effectivly protected against the six diseases of the EPI in only two visits. Vaccination coverage can thus be considerably increased. At the same time, by reducing the number of visits, both the recurrent costs and the investment costs can be reduced. However, the cost of the vaccines would be increased noticeably since production of the inactivated poliomyetlitis vaccine is much more expensive than the production of the live vaccine. An indication is provided of the likely price of the new concentrated and purified inactivated vaccine. The efficiency/cost ratio, measured by the cost of a completely vaccinated child, will, nevertheless, be considerably improved. Therefore, the new inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine allows the coverage of the EPI to be greatly increased under satisfactory conditions.