VACCINATION AGAINST POLIO - INACTIVATED POLIO VACCINE USED IN THE NETHERLANDS AND BURKINA-FASO

For vaccination against poliomyelitis most countries rely on the live Sabin-type oral polio vaccine (OPV). Only few countries use the Salk-t ype inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). Here, experience with IPV in The Netherlands and Burkina Faso is presented. Two different quadruple DPT -IPV vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis are produced by die National Institute of Public Health and Environme ntal Protection (RIVM) in the Netherlands. The quadruple vaccine used in Burkina Faso is more concentrated than the vaccine used in the Neth erlands with regard to the polio and tetanus antigens, as well as the adjuvant (aluminium phosphate). The DPT-IPV (Netherlands) has been use d since 1962(1,2), the DPT-IPV (Burkina Faso) since 1982.(3,4) The CoM position of both vaccines is shown in table 1. The vaccine used in Bur kina Faso was produced by adding concentrated IPV to standard DPT. The vaccine was aimed at protecting infants with only two doses, keeping the logistics and operational constraints of immunization programmes a s low as possible.3-5 This turned out to be as cost-effective as in an immunization programme in an adjacent province using three doses of O PV.6 Especially in tropical countries, where it is extremely difficult to reach a high vaccination coverage, such a vaccine would be attract ive. The composition of this concentrated vaccine was based on studies with the DPT (DTC) and IPV as separate vaccines. Both products apart proved to be safe and protective in a two dose schedule.5,7,12