New polio vaccine

The Dalai Lama on Sunday launched the Bivalent polio vaccine in Bihar by administering drops to two children on National Immunisation Day, Gaya district officials said.

The Dalai Lama on Sunday launched the Bivalent polio vaccine in Bihar by administering drops to two children on National Immunisation Day, Gaya district officials said.

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Bihar polio eradication in-charge, Gopal Krishna said in Patna that the new vaccine was administered to children in 20 out of 38 districts of the state.

The vaccine was launched by President Pratibha Patil on Saturday.

There are three strains of wild polio virus — P1, P2 and P3. Type 2 wild polio virus (P2) was eliminated in 1999. Efforts are being made to eradicate P1 and P3 and medical experts say the new vaccine is more effective against both viruses.

According to Global Polio Eradication Initiative, India registered 703 polio cases as of December 15, 2009.