Double Vaccine Offers Better Protection Against Polio, Study Says

News outlets report on a study’s findings that using two types of polio vaccines could give better protection and speed up efforts to fight polio.

Associated Press/The Guardian: Polio double vaccine gives better protection, study finds
“For decades, there’s been a tug-of-war between the oral and inactivated polio vaccines over which is more effective at preventing the paralyzing disease. Researchers have now resolved the dispute and say that pairing them are better than either alone…” (8/22).

BBC News: Double vaccines ‘could hasten the end of polio’
“Using both types of polio vaccine could speed up efforts to free the world of the disease, research suggests. The oral vaccine is leading the fight to eradicate polio, but trials in India show an additional injection of inactivated virus boosts immunity…” (Gallagher, 8/21).

TIME: Polio’s Two Vaccines Are More Effective When They’re Combined
“A double vaccine could help battle polio in some of the world’s most remote and conflict-torn regions as new research suggests giving a single vaccine shot to children who have already had the oral vaccine greatly boosted their immunity…” (Park, 8/21).

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