The discussion revolves around the implications of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), which is a live attenuated vaccine that can shed the virus in feces after administration. It highlights the potential for unvaccinated individuals to be indirectly immunized through contact with fecally contaminated matter from a vaccinated person. This scenario is particularly relevant in shared living environments, such as families using the same bathroom, where the presence of the attenuated virus in feces could lead to unvaccinated individuals gaining immunity. The conversation draws a parallel to historical lessons from typhoid outbreaks, emphasizing the importance of understanding how vaccine shedding can impact community immunity.
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Does this mean if someone comes into contact with faecally contaminated matter of an immunised polio person, that person would also be vaccinated. Thanks
The oral polio vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains live virus passaged through cells or another organism so that it is no longer pathogenic to humans. When an individual receives this vaccine, some of the attenuated virus is passed in the feces.
My understanding is that it is then very easy for an unvaccinated individual to come into contact with this fecal contamination and become immunized. Say for example an entire family shares the same bathroom but only one was vaccinated, the whole family would likely become vaccinated indirectly.
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