Oral polio vaccine is a

NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-2nd

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-2nd

Explanation

The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), also known as the Sabin vaccine, is a classic example of a live attenuated vaccine.
It contains live polioviruses that have been weakened through repeated passage in cell cultures.
This attenuation process ensures the virus can replicate in the gut to stimulate a robust immune response but is too weak to cause paralytic disease in healthy individuals.
OPV is highly effective because it induces both systemic (bloodstream) and local mucosal (intestinal) immunity, which is crucial for interrupting the chain of transmission and creating herd immunity.

Option A: A killed vaccine contains viruses that have been inactivated, usually by chemicals like formaldehyde. This description applies to the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), not the oral version.
Option B: Immunoglobulins are pre-formed antibodies given to provide immediate, short-term, passive immunity. Vaccines, in contrast, stimulate the body to produce its own long-term, active immunity.
Option C: Antivirals are medications used to treat an existing viral infection by inhibiting the virus's ability to replicate. They are a form of treatment, not prevention.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain The question tests the knowledge of vaccine classification, specifically identifying the type of vaccine the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) belongs to as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the difference between live and killed vaccines is critical for nurses for safe administration and patient education. Live vaccines like OPV are generally contraindicated in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women due to the theoretical risk of the weakened virus causing disease.
The use of OPV has been a cornerstone of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, largely due to its ability to induce herd immunity and its ease of administration in mass campaigns.
In India, the strategy has shifted from using only OPV to a sequential schedule including IPV to mitigate the risk of Vaccine-Associated Paralytic Poliomyelitis (VAPP) while maintaining high population immunity.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'Oral polio vaccine' (OPV).
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about different types of vaccines.
Recall the two main types of polio vaccines: OPV (Sabin) and IPV (Salk).
Remember that 'Oral' corresponds to the Sabin vaccine, which uses a live but weakened (attenuated) virus.
Evaluate the options: 'Killed vaccine' refers to IPV. 'Immunoglobulin' and 'Antiviral' are different classes of medical treatments and not vaccines for prevention.
Select 'Live attenuated vaccine' as the correct classification for OPV.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The question tests the knowledge of vaccine classification, specifically identifying the type of vaccine the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) belongs to.
Stem keywords: Oral polio vaccine, vaccine
Lead-in keywords: is a

QM89ouKKH7XuC0QSbk8Umc

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 193-195

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 58-60

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1983-1985