E-drug: Polio vaccine causing Polio (cont'd)
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On the question on side effects of polio vaccinations, it is true that OPV
can provoke poliomyelitis. However, it is extremely rare: only one case at
every 2.5 million vaccinations (Strebel, Rutter, Cochi et al, Clinical
Infections Dis 1992, 14; 568-79). This negligible risk is easily
outbalanced
by the benefits, since the risk of obtaining polio from the wild virus is
many times higher than that of obtaining it from OPV.
Global eradication of polio will not only reduce the risk of obtaining
polio
to absolutely zero, it is also highly cost-effective. Bart (Bulletin of WHO
1996, 74(1), 35-45) calculated that with continued polio eradication
efforts, benefits would start exceeding the costs already in the year 2007,
which is seven years after reaching the target of a polio free world. By
the year 2040 total savings of around USD 13.6 billion would be expected.
I calculated the costs/DALY gained, if the world would continue
polio control and if it would succeed eradicating polio by the year 2000.
Next table shows that the annual costs per DALY gained are much more
favourable for polio eradication than for polio control.
Costs / DALY gained
2000 2010 2020 2030
Polio control $ 20 $29.55 $ 44.04 $ 63.87
Polio eradication* $ 32.78 $ 4.25 $ 1.04 $ 0.28
* Costs, at different running times for investments to be made before
the year 2000.
This kind of press is devastating for polio eradication campaigns and
should be avoided at any price.
I would further refer to the WHO - GPV (Global Programme for Vaccines),
e-mail gpv@who.ch, or to the home page on internet
Hope to have informed you sufficiently,
Regards,
Bert Schreuder
EPI Advisor
Maputo, Mozambique
bschreud@mail.tropical.co.mz
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