[Inactivated poliovirus vaccine].

During the final stage of global polio eradication program, universal use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is the most feasible option to minimize the inherent risk of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), such as vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) and polio outbreaks due to vaccine-derived polioviruses. Introduction of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, IPV (DPT-IPV) products, instead of OPV, to routine polio immunization should be seriously and urgently considered to minimize ongoing risk of VAPP in Japan. Accordingly, a further polio immunization strategy, including the immunization schedule using DPT-IPV, interchangeability of different DPT-IPV products, intensified polio surveillance activities, and appropriate polio vaccine stockpile, should be developed to maintain polio-free status in Japan prior to the introduction of DPT-IPV.