Polio vaccination for children

Infants' resistance is often very poor, which makes them susceptible to a number of diseases. In particular, polio is an extremely dangerous disease. Therefore, it is extremely important to get polio vaccine to avoid complications that are dangerous for children. 

So how does polio vaccine work and what should be kept in mind when used? Let's find out with aFamilyToday Health through the following article!

Benefits of polio vaccine

The vaccine helps protect children from polio, a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system. Before the vaccine was introduced in 1954, more than 20,000 cases of polio were reported annually in the United States and about 1,000 deaths a year.

Up to 95% of people infected with the virus have no symptoms and many with only mild symptoms, such as sore throat, fever, stomach pain or nausea. Less common symptoms include headache, cramps in the neck, back, or legs. About less than 1% of people infected with the polio virus will be permanently paralyzed.

Polio outbreaks still occur in Africa and the Middle East, so visitors to these regions can easily carry the virus. Even so, many health experts believe the vaccine will be effective against polio worldwide within a few decades.

Is this vaccine administered orally or by injection?

All 4 doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) are administered by injection. The vaccine is sometimes given concurrently with other vaccines such as DTaP, hepatitis B or Hib vaccine.

However, it has a rare but dangerous side effect. About 1 in 2.4 million people vaccinated with oral polio vaccine are infected with the polio virus.

The recommended number of doses is 4 and is given at 2 months, 4 months, 14–18 months, and 4–6 years.

Who should not be vaccinated with polio vaccine?

Children who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the antibiotic neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B or who had had a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine should not continue getting the next dose.

Things to keep in mind when getting vaccinated

Children with moderate to severe illness should wait until they recover before being vaccinated. Many babies will probably feel some pain at the injection site. There have not been any serious side effects with the polio vaccine.

Serious allergic reactions are possible but are quite rare with this vaccine.

If your child has any side effects to this or any other vaccine, tell the doctor right away to avoid problems that could harm them.