News Health & Medicine

Streamlined polio vaccine fights outbreaks

A vaccine aimed at one strain of poliovirus works better than standard approach

By Nathan Seppa

- More than 2 years ago

A simplified vaccine for poliomyelitis might be just what the doctor ordered.

POLIO IN NIGERIA Suspension of vaccinations in Nigeria in 2003 led to a polio outbreak. A new vaccine that targets one strain of poliovirus helped check the outbreak. NEJM/Jenkins

A pared-down vaccine that was introduced in 2005 is knocking back the poliovirus better than the long-standing vaccine, two studies published in the Oct.