Full formMedical & Health
OPVstands forOral Polio Vaccine
Full Form of OPV
What is OPV?
The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is a live attenuated vaccine administered orally to prevent poliomyelitis, a highly infectious viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis and even death. In India, OPV has been the cornerstone of the country’s successful polio eradication campaign, which began in full force in the mid-1990s under the Pulse Polio Immunization program. The vaccine contains weakened poliovirus strains that stimulate the body’s immune response without causing disease, and it is particularly suited for use in mass immunization drives because it is inexpensive, easy to administer, and provides intestinal immunity that helps interrupt transmission. OPV is used in regular childhood immunization schedules as well as during intensive nationwide campaigns, such as the annual National Immunization Days (NIDs) and Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs). India’s last case of wild poliovirus was reported in January 2011, and the country was certified polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2014, a milestone largely attributed to the sustained use of OPV. For students of public health and medicine, understanding the role of OPV in herd immunity and the global switch from trivalent to bivalent OPV is important for competitive exams like NEET PG, UPSC, and nursing licensure.
OPV का फुल फॉर्म
मौखिक पोलियो वैक्सीन
Example
The government organized a special OPV campaign in high-risk districts to maintain India’s polio-free status.
OPV — frequently asked questions
What is the full form of OPV?
OPV stands for Oral Polio Vaccine, a live attenuated vaccine given by mouth to prevent poliomyelitis.
Is OPV still used in India after being declared polio-free?
Yes, India continues to use OPV in routine immunization and special campaigns to maintain herd immunity and prevent re-introduction of the virus.
How is OPV different from IPV?
OPV is a live oral vaccine that provides intestinal immunity and is easy to administer in mass campaigns, while IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine) is given as an injection and provides only humoral immunity.