Vaccination issues are always a stumbling block between he althcare professionals and parents. This can also be said if the polio vaccine is meant. It can be given either orally or by injection. What are the differences between these types of vaccinations, which one is better to choose - we will try to understand the article.
Polio is …
This disease today is considered quite rare, but not completely eradicated, so it's better to play it safe. Polio is caused by viruses and causes paralysis, which leads to disability for life.
This disease can cause respiratory and cardiovascular failure to develop, because there is paralysis of the muscles involved in respiratory movements. This condition can eventually lead to death.
To date, there is no such medicine that could completely cope withdisease, so the only salvation is the polio vaccine.
In world medical practice, this vaccine has been used since 1955, which allowed many states to completely get rid of this terrible disease. Currently, only a few countries remain sources of this infection.
Varieties of Polio Vaccines
Now in the arsenal of doctors there are two vaccines that can prevent the onset of the disease.
- Sebin Oral Live Vaccine (OPV).
- Inactivated Salk Vaccine (IPV).
If we talk about the composition of the polio vaccine, then both varieties contain all the currently available viruses of this disease - 1, 2. 3. The first vaccine is produced in our country, and IPV is produced in other countries, but its use permitted by the Ministry of He alth in Russia.
Combined vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio "Tetracoc" also contains IPV. It is registered in our country and widely used.
In pediatric practice, vaccinations begin to be given to babies from the age of three months. Which polio vaccines to use - imported, for example, "Imovax Polio", or domestic - you can discuss with your doctor and express your preferences.
Vaccination schedule
Pediatricians have a vaccination schedule that they must adhere to. Each vaccination iscertain age. The polio vaccine is no exception. The manual contains detailed information about this. The first vaccination is given to the baby when he is three months old. The second dose of the vaccine should enter the child's body after another month and a half, and then another vaccination is given at 6 months.
To obtain a stable and reliable effect, revaccination should be carried out, it is done at 18 months and after another two months. The last time the vaccine should enter the body at the age of 14.
In those countries where the virus that causes this disease has not been completely eradicated, the vaccine is still given in the maternity hospital. She is not able to create long-term immunity, so a full vaccination begins from two months.
You need to know that only five vaccinations can provide reliable protection against this terrible disease. If for some reason the schedule for the vaccine to enter the body is disrupted, then you should not start all over again, but you can simply carry out the missing vaccinations.
Polio vaccine live
This type of vaccine was created in the middle of the 20th century by the famous Dr. Sebin. It contains a very weak, but living causative agent of the disease. The drug is a reddish liquid with a bitter taste.
The vaccine enters the human body through the mouth, the doctor simply drops a few drops into the child's mouth using a specially designed pipette. Since the vaccine can be of different concentrations, the number of drops is calculated based on this.
It is important to consider that the vaccine must not enter the stomach, otherwise it will simply collapse there and not have the desired effect. Given this, babies under one year old are given a vaccine on the root of the tongue, this zone contains practically no taste buds, which prevents possible regurgitation.
Older children are dripped on the palatine tonsils. If a live polio vaccine is used, the instructions recommend that if babies vomit or spit up, repeat the vaccination. After this vaccination, you can not eat or drink anything for an hour.
After hitting the lymphoid tissue, the virus gradually penetrates into the blood, and with it into the intestines, where it begins to actively multiply. The human immune system begins to respond to a foreign invasion with the synthesis of antibodies, they will form a reliable defense against a full-fledged virus. If a person encounters a live strain, the immune system will quickly activate the formed antibodies, which will suppress the development of the disease.
The polio vaccine (OPV) has the following feature: after vaccination, children release a strain of the virus into the environment with exhaled air for a couple of months when sneezing, thus “vaccinating” other babies.
The reaction of the body to the vaccine
Children may experience the following after vaccination:
- May slightly rise in body temperature. This usually occurs between days 5 and 14 after vaccination.
- Some people have loose stools, diarrhea or constipation in the first few days.
This reaction to the polio vaccine is normal and should not scare parents. All these manifestations pass quickly and do not require any treatment.
Complications after vaccination
The polio vaccine can also cause complications. Among them are the following:
- The development of polio against the background of vaccination. This phenomenon is possible if the vaccination was not done according to the rules and with errors, for example, against the background of an infectious disease of the child, malformations, problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
- Development of allergic manifestations in the form of a runny nose, skin rashes.
If any suspicious manifestations appear, parents should definitely call a doctor. But most often this polio vaccine has good reviews - children easily tolerate it.
Contraindications for OPV vaccination
This type of vaccination should not be given if:
- Diagnosed with HIV.
- There are various tumors in the body.
- Corticosteroids or cytostatics being taken.
- If there are immunodeficiency patients in the family, this also serves as a contraindication to vaccination.
If OPV cannot be done, this does not mean that another type of vaccine will also be contraindicated.
Inactivated vaccine
This type of vaccine was created in 1950 by Salk. The composition of the polio vaccine of this variety is slightly different. It, unlike OPV, contains a virus neutralizedformalin. It is released in a disposable syringe, which contains a single dose of 0.5 ml.
This polio vaccine is administered - the instruction informs about this - in the shoulder or thigh, so it is not necessary to observe the drinking regimen or limit food intake at all.
The entry of dead pathogens into the body also causes the formation of antibodies, which, when encountered with a live strain, will protect against the development of polio.
How does the body react to such a vaccination
Despite the fact that this vaccine does not contain live viruses, it can also provoke some reactions in the body. Among them, the following are most often:
- Some people experience redness at the injection site and slight swelling.
- Body temperature may also rise slightly.
- Appetite is disturbed and there is some restlessness.
This polio vaccine has positive reviews and is considered safer. Such conclusions are based on the fact that it simply cannot provoke the development of vaccine polio, it is produced in a single dose, so there is no danger of an overdose. It's an injection so it's impossible to regurgitate it like babies do with OPV drops.
IPV not shown
This type of vaccination is contraindicated in the presence of allergic reactions to certain drugs, these include:
- "Streptomycin".
- Kanamycin.
- Neomycin.
- Polymyxin B.
Severe allergy to previous dose may also be contraindicated.
Who is not recommended for any vaccination
Whichever polio vaccine is used, there are conditions and diseases in which vaccination is contraindicated:
- Presence of infectious diseases at the time of vaccination. In this case, it is possible to get vaccinated only after the body gets rid of the disease and fully gets stronger.
- If there are chronic diseases, then vaccination should be done only during a period of stable remission.
- Severe edema, high fever, allergic manifestations after a previous vaccination can serve as a reason for refusing to vaccinate.
- Carrying a baby.
Vaccines against polio may have different names, but contraindications must be taken seriously, otherwise the absence of side effects and complications cannot be guaranteed. This applies not only to those that are produced in our country, but also imported ones.
Until this terrible disease is completely exterminated on the globe, the problem of vaccination will remain relevant. Recently, in the literature, on the Internet, you can find a huge amount of conflicting information. Some argue that vaccinations are harmful, while supporters of another theory say that they are a panacea for terrible diseases.
No wonder that lately many parents have becomerefuse any vaccinations. The polio vaccine also falls into this category. Of course, to get vaccinated or refuse it - everyone decides for himself.
But everyone should be aware that not vaccinating can lead to serious consequences if a virus that causes serious illness is suddenly encountered along the way. I would like to advise: before making your choice in favor of vaccination or against it, you need to carefully study this issue and weigh the pros and cons.
And it is better to consult with a competent specialist, rather than read reviews on the Internet, then you will not have to regret your decision. Be he althy and take care of your children, remember that their he alth is in your hands.
