An outbreak of a new type 2 polio strain has been detected in several cities across the country in recent weeks, this was announced today (Tuesday) for the first time in the evening news here at 11. The virus was detected in the sewers of Jerusalem, Tiberias, Beit Shemesh and other towns. The problem with the new strain is that the live vaccine is weakened by drops, not protecting against it. Only the inactivated vaccine given by injection is considered effective.
Outbreak of a new polio strain: the drop vaccine is not helpful, only the vaccine given by injection. The Ministry of Health and the HMOs locate and vaccinate children who have not yet been vaccinated
The report of @kettydor B-#The evening news pic.twitter.com/MGgNC5Fzbn— here news (@kann_news) October 18, 2022
The Ministry of Health confirmed the details and stated in response that there is indeed evidence of type 2 component polio as part of the outbreak that began outside of Israel and was diagnosed in New York and London. The weakened live vaccine that is available in the health funds and is given in drops, is not effective for the strain, but the killed vaccine, which aims to protect the child from paralysis, is proven to be extremely effective.
The Ministry of Health, together with the HMOs, continue to actively locate and vaccinate children who have not yet been vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine in order to protect them from possible paralysis. Just three months ago last July, Dr. Sharon Elrai-Price said in a press briefing that the containment of polio in Israel was successful. This was after in April the Minister of Health, Nitzan Horvitz, indicated the launch of a vaccination campaign against the polio virus.