Polio vaccine
Polio, an infectious
disease caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract, was
once a leading cause of disability. Since the introduction of the polio vaccine
in 1955, the disease has been eradicated worldwide. But the disease is still
prevalent in some developing countries, and until it is eradicated worldwide,
the risk of it spreading globally still exists. For this reason, polio
vaccination remains one of the recommended childhood vaccinations. In most
parts of the world, polio vaccination is mandatory before a child enters
school.
How is the polio vaccine given?
If you were
vaccinated against polio before 2000, you may have received an oral polio
vaccine made from live poliovirus. Although the live virus vaccine has been
very effective in protecting against polio, a few cases of polio per year have
been caused by the oral vaccine itself. So I switched to the inactivated polio
vaccine. When using an inactive (dead) form of the virus that cannot cause
polio, the polio vaccine is given by injection into the arm or leg.
Who needs the polio vaccine
Most people should
receive the polio vaccine during childhood. Children should be vaccinated with
four doses of polio vaccine at the following ages:
- A dose at 2 months
- A dose at 4 months
- A dose at 6-18 months
- A booster dose at 4-6 years
The polio vaccine can
be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Because most adults
were vaccinated as children, routine polio vaccination is not recommended for
individuals 18 years of age or older. But three groups of adults at increased
risk of exposure to poliovirus should consider vaccinating against polio. They
are:
- Travelers to other parts of the world where polio is still common
- People working in laboratories handling samples that may contain poliovirus
- Health care workers who are in close contact with someone who may be infected with poliovirus.
If you belong to any
of these three groups, you should talk to your doctor about polio vaccination.
If you have never been vaccinated against polio, you should get three doses of
polio vaccine:
- First dose at any time
- Second dose 1-2 months later
- Third dose 6-12 months after second
If you have received
one or two doses of polio vaccine in the past, you must get the remaining
dose(s). It does not matter how much time has passed since the last dose or
doses.
Who should not be vaccinated against polio
You should not get
the polio vaccine if:
- You had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of polio vaccine.
- You have had a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotics streptomycin, polymyxin B, or neomycin.
Although no side
effects have been reported in pregnant women who received the vaccine, pregnant
women should avoid vaccination if possible. Pregnant women who belong to one of
the adult groups listed above should talk to their doctor about getting inactivated
polio vaccine on the recommended schedule for adults.
People with moderate
to severe illness usually have to wait until they are cured before getting
vaccinated.
Risks and side effects of polio vaccination
Some people who get
the polio vaccine develop an inflamed red spot at the injection site, but the
vaccine is otherwise very safe. Most people have no problem with this.
However, the polio vaccine, like any medicine, has the potential to cause serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction. The risk that the vaccine could cause serious harm is extremely low.
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