Polio Vaccine Questions and Answers

For parent's, the time when they must take their children into the doctor's office for vaccines is a tough time. No parent wants to watch their child go through the pain of getting a shot and what's more is that there are so many horror stories that float around about vaccines. So, if you are a parent and you will be taking your child in for a polio vaccine then you probably want to know everything that you possibly can about the disease and the vaccine before hand. Here are some answers to the many questions you may have regarding the polio vaccine.

What is Polio? Polio is a disease that is caused by a virus and can cause a child or adult to become paralyzed. In severe cases, polio can paralyze the muscles that promote breathing and this will result in death!

Should My Child get the Polio vaccine? Although cases of polio are rare in the United States, the disease is still fairly common in other parts of the world where vaccines are not as commonly used. Your child should get a polio vaccine to safeguard him or her from the possibility of getting this disease from a carrier that comes from outside the US.

How is the Polio Vaccine Administered? The polio vaccine is administered in one of two ways. There is an oral vaccine and also one that is administered through injection. The oral vaccine is actually not recommended in the United States because it can cause polio in some people.

Are there any risks associated with the Polio Vaccine? While there is a risk of severe allergic reaction just like with any medication, the probability of this happening is very minute. For most, the worst of the side effects of a polio vaccine are a painful area at the site of injection that lasts for about a day or two.

My Child has a cold, should he still get the polio vaccine? If your child has a minor cold it is usually still fine for him to get vaccinated. However, if your child has an infection or has recently been severely ill then you should consult with your doctor regarding whether or not he should have the vaccine right away.

What Happens if my child has a severe reaction to the Polio Vaccine? In the rare event that your child has a severe adverse reaction to the polio vaccine there are certain steps that you can take. First, know that the majority of serious reactions to vaccines will occur within mere minutes of having the shot and the remainder occur within just a few hours. If your child is adversely effected by the polio vaccine and does not recover then the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program which is run by the federal government could help you to cover the costs associated with the medical treatment of your child.

Keep in mind that the possibility of your child having a life threatening reaction to the polio vaccine is extremely rare and this is a chance that you must take to prevent him or her from being susceptible to catching this dangerous and very deadly disease!

Sources:

American Academy of Pediatrics, www.aap.org