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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Vaccine switched in 'milestone' towards ending polio | Vaccine switched in 'milestone' towards ending polio |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| More than 150 countries have begun switching to a different polio vaccine - an important milestone towards polio eradication, health campaigners say. | More than 150 countries have begun switching to a different polio vaccine - an important milestone towards polio eradication, health campaigners say. |
| The new vaccine will target the two remaining strains of the virus under a switchover 18 months in the planning. | The new vaccine will target the two remaining strains of the virus under a switchover 18 months in the planning. |
| There were just 74 cases of the paralysing disease in 2015 and there have been 10 so far this year. | There were just 74 cases of the paralysing disease in 2015 and there have been 10 so far this year. |
| All of the cases were in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Africa has been free of polio for more than a year. | All of the cases were in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Africa has been free of polio for more than a year. |
| Switching the vaccine from one successfully used to fight polio for more than 30 years is a huge logistical exercise. | Switching the vaccine from one successfully used to fight polio for more than 30 years is a huge logistical exercise. |
| Thousands of monitors | Thousands of monitors |
| Thousands of people will monitor the changeover in 155 countries during the next fortnight. | Thousands of people will monitor the changeover in 155 countries during the next fortnight. |
| It is taking effect mainly in developing countries, but also in richer ones such as Russia and Mexico. | It is taking effect mainly in developing countries, but also in richer ones such as Russia and Mexico. |
| The new vaccine will still be given as drops in the mouth, so healthcare workers will not need fresh training. | The new vaccine will still be given as drops in the mouth, so healthcare workers will not need fresh training. |
| It will no longer include a weakened version of type 2 polio virus, which was eradicated in 1999. | It will no longer include a weakened version of type 2 polio virus, which was eradicated in 1999. |
| 'Rare mutations' | 'Rare mutations' |
| Dr Stephen Cochi, from the US-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC), said: "The current vaccine contains live weakened virus relating to three types of polio. | Dr Stephen Cochi, from the US-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC), said: "The current vaccine contains live weakened virus relating to three types of polio. |
| "But we don't need the type 2 component, as it's not in the world any longer. | "But we don't need the type 2 component, as it's not in the world any longer. |
| "And in very rare cases it can mutate and lead to polio, through what's called circulating vaccine-derived virus. | "And in very rare cases it can mutate and lead to polio, through what's called circulating vaccine-derived virus. |
| "So removing type 2 from the vaccine takes away that risk - and ensures we have a vaccine which will work better dose by dose." | "So removing type 2 from the vaccine takes away that risk - and ensures we have a vaccine which will work better dose by dose." |
| What is polio? | What is polio? |
| Source: World Health Organisation | Source: World Health Organisation |
| The history of polio | The history of polio |
| Global stockpile | Global stockpile |
| The planning involved in the switchover has included dealing with a global stockpile of 100 million doses of vaccine targeting just type 2, built up as an insurance policy in case of any outbreak. | The planning involved in the switchover has included dealing with a global stockpile of 100 million doses of vaccine targeting just type 2, built up as an insurance policy in case of any outbreak. |
| The World Health Organization denied some media reports that "millions" of doses of the old vaccine would need to be destroyed, by incineration or other approved means. | The World Health Organization denied some media reports that "millions" of doses of the old vaccine would need to be destroyed, by incineration or other approved means. |
| Its director of polio eradication, Michel Zaffran, said: "Some will need to be destroyed - but this will be a few vials, not trucks full of vaccine. | Its director of polio eradication, Michel Zaffran, said: "Some will need to be destroyed - but this will be a few vials, not trucks full of vaccine. |
| "This has been carefully planned because of the huge amount of resources, so countries have been using up the old vaccine, to minimise leftover quantities. | "This has been carefully planned because of the huge amount of resources, so countries have been using up the old vaccine, to minimise leftover quantities. |
| "We're closer than ever to ending polio worldwide, which is why we are able to move forward with the largest and fastest globally synchronised vaccine switchover." | "We're closer than ever to ending polio worldwide, which is why we are able to move forward with the largest and fastest globally synchronised vaccine switchover." |
| Mike Ray, who contracted polio when he was six years old and has been affected for decades afterwards, told BBC Breakfast he was "absolutely delighted" at the latest news. | |
| He said he was "exceedingly lucky" that he had never had calipers and has been able to get around using crutches and walking sticks. | |
| "I'm not happy it's taken this long [to get close to eradicating the disease] because it has affected so many other people but more power to their elbow. [It is] great news." | |
| Polio progress | Polio progress |