Difference Between Bivalent and Trivalent Polio Vaccine

The key difference between bivalent and trivalent polio vaccine is that bivalent polio vaccine contains only type 1 and type 3 serotypes of poliovirus while trivalent vaccine contains all three serotypes.

Poliovirus exists as three serotypes. All three serotypes are able to cause poliomyelitis. Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing polio disease. Among different types of vaccines such as inactivated vaccines and attenuated oral vaccines, oral vaccines are the most effective vaccines. Furthermore, these oral vaccines might contain one serotype, two serotypes or all three serotypes of poliovirus. Bivalent polio vaccine contains two attenuated poliovirus serotypes while trivalent polio vaccine contains all three serotypes in the attenuated form.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Bivalent Polio Vaccine
3. What is Trivalent Polio Vaccine
4. Similarities Between Bivalent and Trivalent Polio Vaccine
5. Side by Side Comparison – Bivalent vs Trivalent Polio Vaccine in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Bivalent Polio Vaccine?

Bivalent polio vaccine, as the name suggests, contains only two serotypes of poliovirus. It lacks the serotype 2 poliovirus. In other words, the bivalent polio vaccine contains an attenuated virus of serotype 1 and 3.

Difference Between Bivalent and Trivalent Polio Vaccine

Figure 01: Oral Polio Vaccine

Therefore, the bivalent polio vaccine creates immunity against serotypes 1 and 3. But, it does not work against serotype 2.

What is Trivalent Polio Vaccine?

Trivalent polio vaccine is the oral polio vaccine that consists of a mixture of live, attenuated polioviruses of all three serotypes. Moreover, the Sabin polio vaccine is a synonym for trivalent polio vaccine.

Key Difference - Bivalent vs Trivalent Polio Vaccine

Figure 02: Poliovirus

Since it contains all three serotypes of poliovirus, it provides long term immunity against all three serotypes and prevents the development of poliomyelitis. Trivalent polio vaccine is the polio vaccine predominantly used in immunization. It is inexpensive but most effective against the poliovirus.

What are the Similarities Between Bivalent and Trivalent Polio Vaccine?

Bivalent and trivalent polio vaccines contain serotypes of 1 and 3.
They are oral vaccines.
Moreover, they contain attenuated viruses.
Also, both are used for routine immunization programs.

What is the Difference Between Bivalent and Trivalent Polio Vaccine?

Bivalent polio vaccine is an attenuated oral polio vaccine that contains a combination of attenuated poliovirus serotypes 1 and 3. In contrast, the trivalent polio vaccine is an attenuated oral vaccine that contains attenuated polioviruses of all three serotypes. So, this is the key difference between bivalent and trivalent polio vaccine. Furthermore, the bivalent polio vaccine does not develop immunity against serotype 2 while trivalent polio vaccine develops immunity against all three serotypes.

Below is a summary of the difference between bivalent and trivalent polio vaccine.

Summary – Bivalent vs Trivalent Polio Vaccine

Oral polio vaccine can be monovalent, bivalent or trivalent. Bivalent polio vaccine contains attenuated poliovirus serotypes 1 and 3. On the other hand, the trivalent polio vaccine contains attenuated poliovirus all three serotypes. So, this is the key difference between bivalent and trivalent polio vaccine. Since the bivalent polio vaccine does not contain serotype 2, it does not provide immunity against serotype 2. However, the trivalent oral vaccine provides long term immunity against all three serotypes of poliovirus.

Reference:

1. “OPV.” GPEI, Available here.
2. “Polio Disease and Poliovirus | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Available here.