Replacement of oral polio vaccine (OPV) with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) - common questions & answers for providers
State and Territory information:
Questions and answers about changing the polio vaccine from an oral dose to an injection, including reporting to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) and the impact on the General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme.
Why has IPV replaced OPV?
Which vaccines will be used when the change occurs?
Should this vaccination be reported to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR)? What is the impact on the General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme?
More information
Why has IPV replaced OPV?
Oral polio vaccine (OPV) has been replaced by inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) for the routinely recommended doses at two, four and six months and four years of age.If a child had an initial dose or doses of OPV before 1 November 2005, their remaining doses should be given as IPV as per the usual schedule.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC) recommends the replacement of OPV with IPV on the basis that the risk of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) from OPV now exceeds the risk of catching naturally-occurring polio. This change in comparative risk has come about because polio has been eliminated from Australia, with no naturally-occurring polio cases reported here since 1978.
VAPP occurs on average once in every 2.4 million doses of OPV administered, and can cause serious, ongoing paralysis. IPV cannot cause VAPP. Like OPV, IPV protects against all three serotypes of poliovirus.
Since IPV replaced OPV in the United States in 2000, cases of VAPP (previously 8 to 10 cases per year) have been eliminated and the US has remained polio-free. IPV provides protection against all naturally-occurring types of poliovirus worldwide.
Which vaccines will be used when the change occurs?
There are a number of vaccines that include IPV in combination with other vaccines. Children will not require an extra injection at any of the schedule points as a result of the replacement of OPV with IPV.The specific combination vaccines provided as part of the National Immunisation Program will be determined by the State or Territory in which you work. Your State or Territory health department will provide this information to you.
Should this vaccination be reported to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR)? What is the impact on the General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme?
ACIR notification payments, GPII service incentive and outcome payment calculations, and assessment for Maternity Immunisation Allowance and Child Care Benefit payments are not affected by the change from OPV to IPV, provided that the scheduled vaccinations are administered on time and reported to the ACIR.More information
Information about the General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme is available on the Medicare Australia website, or phone 1800 246 101 (free call - 24 hours).Information about the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) is available on the Medicare Australia website or phone 1800 653 809 (free call).
For technical information refer to Part 3.19 Poliomyelitis in the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Page last modified: 08 April, 2008