Russia chooses inactivated polio vaccine from Sanofi Pasteur
An inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) developed by the vaccine division of the sanofi-aventis group, has been chosen for the primary immunisation of infants in Russia.
An inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) developed by the vaccine division of the sanofi-aventis group, has been chosen for the primary immunisation of infants in Russia.
The IPV doses are provided by M P Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Virus Encephalitides through a manufacturing agreement with Sanofi Pasteur. IPV vaccination started in the summer of 2008 as part of Russia National "Project Health".
Four million doses of IPV IMOVAX Polio have been delivered to date, ensuring that a complete birth cohort (approximately 1.3 million babies are born every year in Russia) can receive the recommended three doses of IPV vaccine.
"The Chumakov Institute was the first to produce oral polio vaccine which was instrumental in eradicating poliomyelitis in Russia," said academician Sergey Drosdov, senior scientific advisor of MP Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides Russian Academy Medical Sciences.
The Russian Federation was certified polio-free in 2002. Since 2006, children from certain at risk groups are vaccinated with IPV. Starting mid 2008, all children less than one year of age are vaccinated following a sequential schedule: three doses of IPV for primary immunization, followed by two doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV).
"Every year in Russia, over 1.3 million children will be vaccinated with IPV and will benefit from its enhanced safety profile," said Dr Vladimir Tatochenko, professor of pediatrics and Head of the Diagnostic Department of Scientific Center of Children Health, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
Over 50 polio-free countries are using IPV
An increasing number of polio-free countries are using IPV for their national immunisation programs which is becoming the international health standard of care for polio vaccination.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting a pilot programme to evaluate the switch from OPV to IPV in a tropical setting, for which sanofi pasteur is donating 1.5 million doses of IPV over five years.
