Assessing Immunogenicity of Intramuscular Sabin Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine and Non-inferiority of Intradermal Fractional Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine

After OPV cessation, which is expected within a year of polio eradication certification, IPV will be the only polio vaccine used in essential immunization programs. SAGE has recommended a two-dose intramuscular IPV or intradermal fractional IPV (fIPV) schedule after OPV cessation. While it is expected that there shall be sufficient IPV available - in large part because of several manufacturers establishing production of IPV using Sabin strains (sIPV) - it is dependent on these manufacturers being able to meet promised product development and manufacturing timeline and meet WHO prequalification. It is likely that countries that have introduced intradermal fIPV pre-eradication will continue to use intradermal fIPV post-eradication. Therefore, it is important to generate evidence on immunogenicity of intradermal fractional sIPV in addition to intramuscular sIPV for the schedule recommended by SAGE.

This clinical trial assesses and compares the immunogenicity of full and fractional (1/5) dose Sabin IPV given at 14 weeks and 9 months of age from two different manufacturers. Healthy infants 6 weeks of age will be enrolled in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and randomized to one of four arms:

A. IMBCAMS full dose sIPV at 14 weeks and 9 months B. IMBCAMS fractional dose sIPV at 14 weeks and 9 months C. BIBP full dose sIPV at 14 weeks and 9 months D. BIBP fractional dose sIPV at 14 weeks and 9 months

Participants will be followed until 10 months of age through clinic visits. Blood samples will be collected for measuring immune response.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy infants 6 weeks of age (range: 42-48 days).
• Parents that consent for participation in the full length of the study (i.e., 34 weeks).
• Parents that are able to understand and comply with planned study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• A diagnosis or suspicion of immunodeficiency disorder either in the infant or in an immediate family member.
• A diagnosis or suspicion of bleeding disorder that would contraindicate parenteral administration of sIPV or collection of blood by venepuncture.
• Acute diarrhoea, infection or illness at the time of enrollment (6 weeks of age) that would require infant's admission to a hospital.
• Acute vomiting and intolerance to liquids within 24 hours before the enrollment visit (6 weeks of age).
• Evidence of a chronic medical condition identified by a study medical officer during physical exam.
• Receipt of any polio vaccine (OPV or IPV) before enrollment based upon documentation or parental recall.
• Known allergy/sensitivity or reaction to polio vaccine, or its contents.
• Infants from multiple births. Infants from multiple births will be excluded because the infant(s) who is/are not enrolled would likely receive OPV through routine immunization and transmit vaccine poliovirus to the enrolled infant.
• Infants from premature births (<37 weeks of gestation).