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Polio immunization (vaccine)
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| Polio immunization (vaccine) |
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Definition:
Polio immunization protects against a severe, paralyzing disease caused by poliovirus. Alternative Names:
Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV); Salk vaccine
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Information:
Polio is a severe, contagious, life-threatening disease of childhood that can cause lasting paralysis, usually of the legs. It usually affects children under 5 years of age. The entire body, including the breathing muscles, may become paralyzed within hours after the onset of the illness. This can be deadly if the child is not placed on a ventilator for artificial respiration. No polio has been found in the United States for more than 20 years, but polio is still common in some parts of the world. In a sense, the disease is only one plane flight away -- it would only take one case of polio entering from another country to bring the disease back to the US. Anyone who has not been vaccinated would be at risk. Experts hope polio will be eliminated worldwide in a few years, and that soon these vaccines will no longer be necessary. In the meantime, this vaccine is important. The Salk vaccine is an inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) that was developed by Dr. Jonas Salk in 1955. It consists of injections of inactivated (dead) polio virus. IPV cannot cause polio. IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE Polio vaccination is one of the recommended childhood immunizations and vaccination should begin during infancy. In most parts of the US, polio immunization is required before a child can start school. Children should receive 4 doses of IPV: one dose each at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 - 18 months, and 4 - 6 years. Children who have received 3 doses of IPV before age 4 should receive a fourth dose before or at the time of school entry. The fourth dose is not needed if the third dose is given on or after the fourth birthday.
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