What is Polio and Why You Need the Vaccine

Before the Polio vaccine was created, Polio paralyzed and/or killed thousands of people each year. What exactly is it, you may ask. Polio is a disease that is caused by a virus. People get infected with Polio through the mouth. Polio can paralyze one part or more of the body, such as an arm or a leg, or both legs, etc... Polio causes death in many people by paralyzing the muscles used to breathe.

Polio is a very serious disease that caused an epidemic in the United States in 1916. This epidemic killed over 6000 people and paralyzed over 27,000 more in the United States alone. In the 1950's every year there were over 20,000 reported cases of Polio.

Starting in 1955, the Polio vaccination became available. By the 1960's, the number of reported cases of Polio decreased by about 17,000 people per year. Remarkably, in the year 1979, there were only 10 reported cases of Polio in the United States. Some parts of the world still battle the Polio disease due to not being vaccinated.

There are currently 2 kinds of Polio vaccines IPV which is a shot, and OPV which is taken orally. In the United States it is no longer recommended to take the oral vaccine, but rather the shot (IPV). The (OPV) or oral vaccine contains live cells and actually causes approximately 1 in 2.4 million people to acquire the disease. The Polio shot (IPV) does not cause the disease, thus it is recommended in the United States.

The (IPV) shot, depending on the age of the person getting it, is injected into the leg or arm. You can get the Polio vaccine at the same time you get your other vaccinations. The Polio vaccine is given in 4 doses. It is best to get the Polio vaccine as children, at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and a final booster dose from the ages of 4-6 years of age.

Most adults were vaccinated as children and do not need the vaccine, however there are a few exceptions if the individuals are at a higher risk of getting the disease. People who travel internationally to parts of the world that may be prone to the disease, people who work in a laboratory that contains the disease, and/or health care workers that may be treating patients who have the disease, may need to get the vaccine again.

If you are an adult and you have never been vaccinated with the Polio vaccine, it would be a good idea to start getting it now. It only takes one person to infect you with the disease. Adults should get 3 doses, with the first dose being as soon as possible, the second dose a month or 2 after the first dose, and the final dose 6-12 months after the second dose.

There are a few people who should not get the vaccine. People who should not get the vaccine are people who have had serious allergic reactions to the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin and polymyxin B. You should not get the vaccine if you have taken one dose of the vaccine and had a serious reaction to it. If you are ill at the time of the vaccination, ask your doctor if you are well enough to get the shot, or if you should wait until you are well.

As with any vaccination, if you think you are having a serious reaction to the vaccine, consult your doctor immediately. Difficulty breathing, dizziness, wheezing, paleness, weakness, accelerated heart beat and hives are some of the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.