District level workshop on tOPV to bOPV switch was held in CMO office Kiphire on March 19, attended by programme officers, CMO staff and block level officers.
The objective of the workshop was to carry out the switch from tOPV (trivalent) to bOPV (bivalent) successfully in the district. The workshop was chaired by DPO RCH-UIP, Dr. Rebecca Y Sema with SMO, WHO from Assam, Dr. Nagen Sarmah as the resource person. He gave an overview on the national switch plan, components and timelines, and a detailed presentation on the global scenario, polio endgame strategy and online tracking of tOPV, bOPV and IPV. As part of the global efforts towards eradication of polio, tOPV currently being used which contains all three types of polioviruses (type 1, 2 & 3) is being replaced with bOPV (type 1 & 3). The National Switch date is April 25, 2016 where use of tOPV would be stopped, removed from cold chain and sent for disposal. The switch to bOPV would affect both routine immunization and polio campaigns.
The district level workshop would be followed by the block level workshop carried out by the respective block-level medical officers and block programme managers. District level workshop on trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (tOPV) to bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) was also conducted on March 18 at Mon district in the office of CMO.
The workshop was conducted by WHO, National Polio Surveillance Programme (NPSP), Dr. Boroah along with UNISEF consultant, Dr Pairson for medical officers, nurses, vaccinators, cold chain point handlers and block programme managers.
The topics discussed were global polio scenario and endgame strategy, national switch plan: overview, components and timelines, roles and responsibilities and online tracking of tOPV, bOPV and IPV.