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Polio vaccination for children: after vaccination, symptoms, treatment, consequences of the disease. Polio vaccination: analyzing the routine vaccination schedule

Poliomyelitis is a dangerous disease caused by viral infections. The danger of the disease is that it affects children’s central nervous and endocrine system, and gastrointestinal tract. Vaccination of children against polio is carried out to combat poliovirus and increase children's immunity to this virus.

How many times and when are children from one to 14 years old vaccinated against polio?

There are two types of polio vaccination: oral and inactivated. In most countries, preference is given to oral administration of the vaccine, since this method is more convenient, and it also reduces the risk of trauma to the child’s psyche. It is known that almost all children have a negative attitude and are very afraid of any injections.

Many parents are concerned about the question of whether to vaccinate their child against polio if the baby lives in Russia, and here, as we know, this disease is not common. Pediatricians answer this question unanimously; they assure parents that vaccination against poliovirus must be carried out. According to them, the danger is not only that a carrier of the poliovirus may come to the country, because a child with a weakened immune system can become infected from children who have just been vaccinated, and it is almost impossible to find out about this.

To protect children from contracting this dangerous virus, you need to know exactly how many polio vaccinations a child needs to get, and the local pediatrician should inform parents about this. There are six such vaccinations in total. The first vaccination is carried out at 3 months, then at four and a half, six, one year, twenty months and 14 years. Thus, children under one year of age should be vaccinated against polio three times.

As a rule, the local pediatrician himself notifies parents when the baby needs to be vaccinated. However, it is advisable that parents themselves know how many times their children are vaccinated against polio and when exactly, and based on this knowledge they independently monitor the polio vaccination schedule.

Is a child contagious after receiving a polio vaccine?

Is a child contagious after a polio vaccination? Many parents want to know the answer to this question. In fact, after vaccination, the child’s body will secrete in environment vaccine strains. However, in order for these strains to become virulent, that is, infectious, certain conditions are required for this. To do this, when they enter the intestines of the vaccinated person, they must confuse, and this only happens in children with immunodeficiency. This is why most children who have been vaccinated against polio are not contagious, since children with immunodeficiencies are not vaccinated.

How to prepare a child for polio vaccination: recommendations from pediatricians

Knowing when children are vaccinated against polio, parents should create as much favorable conditions for vaccination. Certain actions will help avoid many complications associated with vaccination.

1. You should know that vaccination can only be done absolutely healthy child. If parents have doubts about the health of their baby, it is better to temporarily write a refusal to vaccinate and do it a little later.

2. To make sure that the baby is absolutely healthy at the time of vaccination, you can do general analysis blood and urine.

3. If a child suffers from allergic reactions and is being vaccinated for the first time, parents must first visit an allergist’s office. A specialist will determine the allergen, and this will avoid complications from vaccination.

4. A few days before the vaccination, the baby, as prescribed by the pediatrician, can start giving antihistamines. They will reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions to the vaccine.

In order for polio vaccination to go smoothly and not cause serious complications, it is important not only to properly prepare for it, but also to familiarize yourself with the rules of conduct after vaccination. First of all, parents should remember that the baby should not be fed or given water for an hour after vaccination. For 40 days, it is important to avoid injecting any medications into the child’s body.

The first few days after vaccination, it is important to exclude the child’s contact with other children and strangers. During this period, it is better to avoid walking and bathing your baby. Such actions will minimize the risk of developing colds and other infectious diseases, because the child’s body is especially weakened during this period. One or two days after vaccination, you should not overfeed your child; it is important to give him more fluids.

Reactions in a child who has been vaccinated against polio: fever, increased bowel movements, and others

The polio vaccine is considered the easiest, because it almost never produces side effects. However, like any other such procedure, it has an impact on the child’s immune system. After the vaccine is administered, the baby’s body develops protection against polio, therefore, the immunity weakens and other infections can penetrate.

Each child's reaction to the polio vaccine can be completely different. It depends on the state of health of the baby, his immune system, parental behavior after vaccination, as well as the combination of polio vaccination with other vaccines. As a rule, any reaction from the outside child's body completely absent. There are general conditions children's body, which cannot be called complications; they are rather normal manifestations of vaccination.

After oral polio vaccination, children may sometimes experience an increase in bowel movements. This side effect of the polio vaccine in children usually goes away within 1-2 days.

A child’s temperature may also rise to 37.5 degrees after polio vaccination. Such indicators can last up to 14 days and, according to pediatricians, this is the norm and not a deviation.

There are some reactions after an inactivated vaccine:

  • in 5–7% of children, swelling of redness appears at the site of vaccine administration, but not more than 8 cm in diameter;
  • the first two days after vaccination, children may experience a slight increase in body temperature;
  • increased excitability and nervousness of the child;
  • nausea, single vomiting.

Side effects and complications after polio vaccination in children

Sometimes more develop serious complications from polio in children, they occur extremely rarely, but nevertheless, such situations are known in pediatrics. Parents should know when they should immediately seek medical help:

1. The child was vaccinated against polio, and during the vaccination he developed shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

2. Severe swelling of the face, limbs and eyes.

3. Temperature rise above 39 degrees.

4. The appearance of seizures in the baby.

5. Formation of a rash on the baby’s skin, body itching.

6. Development of lethargy and lack of movement.

In addition to the indications, there are also contraindications to the polio vaccine in children. Among them, experts include:

Whether a child should be vaccinated against polio is up to parents to decide, but adults should consider all the consequences of refusing vaccination. In this case, all responsibility for the risks of developing the disease falls on the parents.

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Poliomyelitis is an infectious viral disease, the causative agent of which is a virus that lives in the patient’s oropharynx and intestines. The most common route of transmission of this infectious disease is through household contact and airborne droplets. When collecting an anamnesis of a sick person, close contacts with an infected person are almost always determined, which is especially dangerous in kindergartens and schools.

Danger of this disease is that the virus enters the tissues of the brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis due to high temperature, which most often leads to disability of the patient. In particular severe cases the disease can be fatal.

At the first symptoms, patients note fever, weakness, pain in muscles and joints, headache, which increases, there may be a slight runny nose. Later, tension in the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle appears. Children younger age They become very moody, their appetite and sleep are disturbed.

The patient requires urgent hospitalization, and everything possible is done to save his life. The outbreak of the disease is being disinfected, the kindergarten is in quarantine as long as the epidemiologist says, and children’s body temperatures are monitored daily.

Children of younger kindergarten age are most susceptible to polio, although medicine knows cases of adults being affected. This pattern is due to the fact that almost all adults, unlike children, have persistent specific immunity to illness. And all thanks to routine vaccinations in childhood, according to the vaccination calendar schedule.

Specific prevention

The events of the last 2-3 years prove that the disease has not been completely defeated. WITH scientific point From a perspective, this fact is very easily explained. Our parents, and we ourselves, remember how in kindergarten We regularly received vaccinations as needed, and no one even thought about refusing them. Post-vaccination complications were also a rare event of extreme importance.

Today, many parents refuse to carry out routine immunization according to the vaccination calendar schedule for their children, and they have every right to do so, although no one knows about the consequences of these actions. According to current legislation, the absence of vaccinations, which provide vaccination calendar, is not an obstacle to attending kindergarten.

Without the consent of the parents, the nurse in the kindergarten does not have the right to give vaccinations according to the calendar. If you have a runny nose or fever, it is prohibited to give drops or injections against polio, despite the vaccination schedule.

According to the current schedule of the vaccination calendar, each person is vaccinated against polio 5 or 6 times:

  • at three months;
  • at four months and two weeks
  • at six months;
  • at eighteen months;
  • at twenty months;
  • at 14 years old.

The first three vaccinations of the calendar are vaccinations against polio, and the second three (6, 18 months and 14 years) are revaccinations to maintain the acquired immunity.

In modern medical practice There are two types of polio vaccines:

  • IPV is an inactivated vaccine for oral administration in injections;
  • OPV is oral polio vaccine in the form of drops for oral administration.

Today, both vaccines are allowed to be used for vaccination and revaccination. Moreover, each vaccination can be carried out different types vaccines. As practice shows, modern medical workers The injectable form of IPV is used for the first vaccination, while OPV can be used for revaccination in older children.

Let us consider in detail the advantages and disadvantages of each type of vaccination.

Oral polio vaccine

If you ask the opinion of young patients, they will unanimously answer that the OPV vaccine is better, but not at all because the immunity from it is better, but because it is not given in injections. Everyone probably remembers how in kindergarten, and then at school, the nurse dripped two pink drops of a sour-bitter taste into our mouths. This was the polio vaccination. Two or four drops of the drug are dripped into the mouth under the tongue or on the root of the tongue for each child and asked not to eat or drink for another 1.5-2 hours.

According to reviews, drops of this vaccine are well tolerated by children, in rare cases the temperature rises or there is a slight upset in the intestines. The temperature is brought down with antipyretics, and the disorder goes away within a day.

Inactivated polio vaccine

IPV is an inactivated Salk vaccine, which is administered into the child’s body using a disposable small syringe containing 0.5 ml of vaccine. The injection is given in the patient's shoulder or thigh. It may appear at the injection site local reaction in the form of redness and swelling, the body temperature may also increase slightly. After the injection, the child can immediately eat and drink water. There are no restrictions, unlike the first case.

Both vaccines promote the formation of lasting immunity to the virus and contain 3 inactivated strains of the virus, which can cause the development of the disease.

It is worth noting that not all children can undergo specific testing. Contraindications to this manipulation may be:

  • AIDS;
  • immune system dysfunction;
  • leukemia;
  • ARVI and runny nose;
  • heat bodies;
  • tuberculosis;
  • severe diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Most often, vaccination against this disease is effective method prophylaxis that is well tolerated and has no negative consequences. Moreover, in kindergarten children are already protected from this virus, and the last revaccination at the age of 14 thoroughly consolidates the acquired immunity.

But, medicine knows cases of the development of complications after an injection or drops called vaccine-associated polio, which occurs like polio with damage to the nervous system and paralysis. This complication occurs only in persons with dysfunction of the immune system and other concomitant diseases that were not diagnosed before vaccination. It is also noted that it occurs most often during the first injection, and has never been diagnosed at 14 years of age.

In healthy children, the development of this complication is practically excluded. Also, to prevent the development of this complication, a combination is used different types vaccines to create immunity against polio. This means that the injection is given in the first three vaccinations, which are provided for in the vaccination calendar, and in the next 3 drops are given. At the age of 14, the child’s immunity against the disease is fully formed.

Poliomyelitis is a viral disease that occurs mainly in Asia and Africa. Having the ability to travel through the air, the virus reaches prosperous regions of Europe and America. WHO sees only one way to combat the epidemic - to vaccinate children and adults.

Vaccination against polio is included in the immunization calendar and is considered mandatory.

Types of polio vaccines with drug names

Polio vaccines are available in 2 forms:

  • Drops. Contains weakened forms of the virus of all 3 types, administered orally to develop passive immunity in the intestines. It is called Sebin oral polio vaccine (OPV).
  • Homogeneous suspensions in disposable 0.5 ml syringes. They also include dead viral forms of 3 types. Vaccination is done intramuscularly. Immunity is formed at the injection site and then spreads throughout the body. It's called Salk inactivated vaccine (IPV).

The first form of vaccine is cheaper than the second. It is successfully produced by domestic pharmaceutical companies in contrast to IPV, which is an imported product.

Polio vaccines are divided into 2 types - monocomponent and combined:

  • the first include Poliorix and Imovax Polio;
  • the second ones are Infanrix Penta, Infanrix IPV, Tetrakok, Microgen (see also:).

Differences between OPV and IPV

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Each type of polio vaccine has its own positive sides And side effects, Although unpleasant symptoms after administration, less in IPV. In countries with high epidemiological levels, OPV is widely used. The reason is the cheapness of the drops and the development of strong immunity. Distinctive features vaccines are presented in the table below.

Table of characteristics of polio vaccines:

Parameter/type of vaccineOPVIPV
Virus typeWeakened alive.Dead.
Input methodIn the mouth.Intramuscularly under the skin in the thigh, shoulder or under the shoulder blade.
The nature of the development of immunityIn the intestines. Similar to the one that appears in a person who has had an illness.In blood.
AdvantagesEase of use. Formation of longer lasting immunity. Low costs for creating a vaccine. Increasing the strength of herd immunity.Safety for the child's body. There is no digestive upset, there is no effect on the intestinal microflora, there is no decrease in immunity. There is no likelihood of vaccine-associated polio (VAP) manifestations. Used as part of a complex vaccine. Suitable for vaccination of children with immunodeficiency and sick babies. The composition contains no preservatives based on merthiolates. Ease of use due to the accuracy of the dosage in the syringe.
FlawsAfter vaccination, a person becomes a carrier of the virus and is able to infect others with VAP.High cost of vaccine production. Vaccination does not protect against wild polio infection. There is no intestinal immunity to stop the transmission of the virus. Painful injection.
Side effectsQuincke's edema, allergic reactions.Redness of the injection site (up to 1% of cases). Muscle tightness (up to 11% of cases). Up to 29% of vaccinated people experience pain.
ComplicationsThe development of vaccine-associated polio with a probability of up to 0.000005%.Not detected.

To develop lasting immunity against polio, doctors advise combining the introduction of live and dead viruses.

How vaccines work

The operating principle of OPV is as follows. Once on the root of the tongue or tonsil, the vaccine is absorbed into the blood and enters the intestines. Incubation period virus - a month, the body actively begins to produce antibodies (protective proteins) and protective cells that can destroy the polio pathogen upon contact with it in the future. The first constitute secretory immunity on the intestinal mucous membranes and in the blood. Their task is to recognize the virus and prevent it from entering the body.

Additional bonuses from OPV are:

  • Blocking the entry of the wild form of the virus while it is weakened in the intestines.
  • Activation of interferon synthesis. The child may be less likely to suffer from viral respiratory diseases and influenza.

The principle of action of IPV: falling into muscle tissue, is quickly absorbed and remains at the injection site until antibodies are produced, which spread throughout the circulatory system. Since they are not present on the intestinal mucous membranes, contact with the virus in the future will lead to infection of the child.

Children's vaccination schedule

In the Russian Federation, a sequence of polio vaccinations has been approved, consisting of 2 stages - vaccination and revaccination. With absence serious illnesses For a child entitled to a delay in vaccination, the schedule is as follows:

  • the first stage - at 3, 4.5 and 6 months;
  • the second stage - at 1.5 years, 20 months and 14 years.

The schedule involves a combination of OPV and IPV. For infants, pediatricians recommend doing intramuscular injections, and for babies after a year - drip. For older children, the polio vaccine is given in the shoulder.

If parents choose only IPV for their child, then it is enough to vaccinate 5 times. The last injection is given at 5 years of age. Missing a vaccine as scheduled does not mean you need to start the regimen all over again. It is enough to agree on the optimal time with the immunologist and carry out as many procedures as necessary.

How is the polio vaccine given?

At the time of vaccination, the child must be healthy, with normal temperature body, no relapse allergic disease. If necessary, the pediatrician can prescribe tests - blood, urine and stool. Parents have the right to examine their child without their appointment and consult with an immunologist.

OPV

For a child under one year old, OPV is dripped onto the root of the tongue with a special pipette or syringe without a needle. Here the concentration of lymphoid tissue is greatest. For older children, the vaccine is dripped onto the tonsils. A sufficient amount of pink liquid is 2-4 drops.

The quality of OPV depends on compliance with the rules for its storage. Live vaccine frozen and transported in this form. After defrosting, it retains its properties for 6 months.

It is important to ensure that the vaccine is delivered accurately so that the child does not swallow it or regurgitate it, otherwise it is necessary to re-instill it. In the first case, the drug will be broken down by gastric juice. After administering the drops, the child is allowed to drink water and eat food after an hour and a half.

IPV

The vaccine with killed polio pathogens is distributed in disposable syringes with a volume of 0.5 ml or is included in combination vaccines. It is better to discuss where to administer it with your pediatrician. Usually, children under 1.5 years old are given an injection in the thigh area into the muscle tissue (we recommend reading:). For older children - in the shoulder. In rare cases, the vaccine is administered under the shoulder blade.

The skin puncture site does not need to be protected from water when swimming. It should not be rubbed or placed under straight Sun rays over the next 2 days.

4 inactivated vaccines In terms of the quality of immunity produced, they are equal to 5 OPV. To develop lasting immunity against polio, pediatricians insist on a combination of live and dead viruses.

Contraindications to vaccination

The following conditions are contraindications for polio vaccination:

  • infectious disease in a child;
  • period of exacerbation of a chronic disease.

Children with the following diseases and pathologies completely refuse polio vaccination due to complications. For oral vaccine:

  • HIV, congenital immunodeficiency, the presence of the latter in the child’s relatives;
  • pregnancy planning, already pregnant mother of a baby for whom vaccination is planned;
  • neurological consequences after previous vaccinations - seizures, disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system;
  • severe consequences after the previous vaccination - high temperature (39 and above), allergic reaction;
  • allergy to vaccine components (antibiotics) – streptomycin, kanamycin, polymyxin B, neomycin;
  • neoplasms.

At the time of vaccination, the child must be completely healthy and not have allergic reactions to the components of the vaccine

For vaccination with a non-live virus:

  • allergy to neomycin, streptomycin;
  • complications after the last vaccination - severe swelling at the site of skin puncture up to 7 cm in diameter;
  • malignant neoplasms.

Normal reaction to vaccination and possible side effects

The introduction of a foreign substance inevitably causes a reaction in the body. After vaccination against polio, it is considered conditionally normal when the baby develops the following symptoms:

  • on days 5-14 the temperature rose to 37.5 degrees;
  • there is a bowel disorder in the form of diarrhea or constipation, which goes away on its own after a couple of days;
  • vomiting, nausea and weakness appear;
  • anxiety increases before bedtime, he is capricious;
  • the puncture site turns red and thickens, but its diameter does not exceed 8 cm;
  • A mild rash appears, which can be easily treated with short-term use of antihistamines.

General weakness and elevated body temperature after vaccination is considered normal reaction which will go away on its own after a few days

Possible complications

Complications after vaccination can be serious and dangerous. The first are the result of violation of vaccination requirements, for example, when a child had an acute respiratory viral infection or his immunity was weakened by a recent illness.

After polio vaccination dangerous complications OPV is vaccine-associated polio and severe intestinal dysfunction. The first type of manifestation and treatment methods are identical to the “wild” form, therefore the baby must be hospitalized in the infectious diseases department of the hospital. The second occurs when diarrhea does not go away within 3 days after vaccination.

The likelihood of VAP occurring as a complication is higher with the first injection, and with each subsequent injection it decreases. The risk of VAP is higher in children with immunodeficiency and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Complications after the administration of an inactivated vaccine are of a different nature. The most dangerous of them are arthritis and lifelong lameness. Serious side effects will include allergic reactions such as swelling of the lungs, limbs and face, itching and rash, and difficulty breathing.

Vaccination against polio is the only way to prevent the development of a dangerous viral infection. The vaccine was developed more than 60 years ago by American and Soviet doctors, which helped prevent the development of a pandemic. Immunization is carried out in childhood and helps to reliably protect the body from polio. But how relevant is vaccination in our time? Is the vaccine safe for children? When should you get vaccinated? It is necessary to consider in more detail the issues that concern parents before immunization.

What is polio?

Poliomyelitis is a dangerous viral infection caused by Poliovirus hominis. The disease is transmitted contact method through household items and secretions. Virus particles enter the human body through the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx or intestines, then spread through the bloodstream to the spinal cord and brain. Mostly young children (no older than 5 years) are susceptible to polio.

The incubation period is 1-2 weeks, rarely – 1 month. Then symptoms develop that resemble a common cold or light form intestinal infection:

  • Slight increase in temperature;
  • Weakness, increased fatigue;
  • Runny nose;
  • Impaired urination;
  • Increased sweating;
  • Soreness and redness of the pharynx;
  • Diarrhea due to decreased appetite.

When viral particles penetrate the membranes of the brain, it develops serous meningitis. The disease leads to fever, muscle and head pain, skin rashes, and vomiting. Characteristic symptom meningitis - tension in the neck muscles. If the patient is unable to bring the chin to the sternum, then urgent consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Important! About 25% of children who have suffered viral infection, become disabled. In 5% of cases, the disease leads to the death of the patient due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

In the absence of timely treatment, the disease progresses, pain in the back and legs appears, and the act of swallowing is impaired. Duration infectious process usually does not exceed 7 days, then recovery occurs. However, polio can lead to disability of the patient due to paralysis (complete or partial).

Why are polio vaccinations given?

Polio vaccination is given to people regardless of age. Indeed, in the absence of immunity, a person can easily become infected with an infection and contribute to its further spread: the patient releases the virus into the environment for 1-2 months from the moment the first symptoms appear. After which the pathogen quickly spreads through water and food products. Doctors do not exclude the possibility of the polio pathogen being transmitted by insects.

Therefore, they try to get vaccinated against polio as early as possible, starting from 3 months of age. Immunization is carried out in all countries of the world, which helps to minimize the occurrence of an epidemic.

Vaccine classification

During immunization, polio vaccines are used:

  • Oral live polio vaccine (OPV). Produced exclusively in Russia on the basis of weakened live viral particles. The drug is available in the form of drops for oral use. This polio vaccine reliably protects the body from all existing strains of the virus;
  • Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV: Imovax polio, Poliorix). The drug is created on the basis of killed viral particles that are injected. The polio vaccine is safe for humans and practically does not cause adverse reactions. However, the vaccine is less effective than OPV, so certain groups of patients may develop polio.

Combination drugs are widely used for immunization, which help protect the body from polio and other infections. The following vaccines are used in Russia: Infanrix Hexa, Pentaxim, Tetracok.

How does the vaccine work?

The polio vaccine involves injecting weakened or dead virus particles. Our body is capable of producing special immune bodies, which are carried through the bloodstream to all organs and tissues. When meeting infectious agents, leukocytes cause immune reaction– production specific antibodies. To obtain lasting immunity, one encounter with the virus is enough.

Important! When using OPV, the child will release viral particles into the environment, so it can be dangerous for unvaccinated children.

The introduction of weakened viral particles leads to a pronounced immune response of the body, however, it minimizes the risk of developing an infection. At the end of the 20th century, administration of IPV was sufficient to create lifelong immunity. However, over time, virus strains have become more virulent, so only polio vaccinations with OPV can reliably protect against infection. Important! To create lifelong immunity, 6 vaccinations are required.

Is the polio vaccine safe for children?

Vaccination against polio using inactivated drugs is absolutely safe for a child. After all, killed virus particles are not able to provoke the development of infection. However, polio vaccination using OPV can lead to the development of vaccine-associated polio in rare cases when the immunization schedule is disrupted. Children with pathologies are at risk of developing complications digestive organs, severe immunodeficiency. If a child has suffered vaccine-associated poliomyelitis, then further vaccination should be carried out exclusively with the introduction of an inactivated vaccine.

Important! By law, parents have the right to refuse vaccinations using weakened viruses.

Almost completely eliminate the development severe complication The following vaccination scheme will help: the first polio vaccine should be given with the IPV vaccine, followed by OPV. This will lead to the formation of immunity in the child before live particles of the virus enter his body.

When is vaccination carried out?

To form reliable immunity, a child needs two-stage preventive measures: vaccinations and revaccinations. IN infancy Children receive 3 polio vaccinations, but over time the amount of antibodies in the bloodstream decreases. Therefore, repeated administration of the vaccine or revaccination is indicated.

Vaccination against polio - combination immunization schedule:

  • Introduction of IPV to children at 3 and 4.5 months;
  • Taking OPV at 1.5 years, 20 months, 14 years.

Using this regimen allows you to minimize the risk of developing allergies and complications.

Important! Here is a classic child immunization schedule. However, it may vary depending on the health status of the children.

When used exclusively oral drug The child is vaccinated at 3; 4.5; 6 months, revaccination at 1.5 years, 20 months and 14 years. Vaccination against polio using IPV is carried out in 3; 4.5; 6 months, revaccination – at 1.5 years and 6 years.

How are children vaccinated?

OPV is released in the form of drops Pink colour, which have a bitter-salty taste. The drug is administered with a disposable syringe without a needle or via an oral dropper. In young children, the vaccine must be applied to the root of the tongue, where the lymphoid tissue is located. At older ages, the drug is dripped onto the tonsils. This helps to avoid profuse salivation, accidental ingestion of the vaccine, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of immunization.

The dose of the drug is determined by the concentration of OPV, 2 or 4 drops. After vaccination, children should not be given water or food for 60 minutes.

Important! The polio vaccine can cause regurgitation in the child, then the manipulations should be repeated. If, when the vaccine is re-administered, the baby burps again, then vaccination is carried out after 1.5 months.

When vaccinated with IPV, the drug is administered intradermally. For children under 18 months, the injection is placed under the shoulder blade, for older children - in the thigh area.

Possible adverse reactions

The vaccine is usually well tolerated. After the administration of OPV, there may be a slight increase in body temperature and increased bowel movements in children early age. Symptoms usually develop 5-14 days after immunization and go away on their own within 1-2 days.

When using an inactivated vaccine, the following adverse reactions are possible:

  • Swelling and redness of the injection site;
  • Increased body temperature;
  • Development of anxiety, irritability;
  • Decreased appetite.

Parents should be alert to the following symptoms:

  • Apathy of the child, development of adynamia;
  • The occurrence of seizures;
  • Breathing problems, shortness of breath;
  • Development of urticaria, which is accompanied by severe itching;
  • Swelling of the limbs and face;
  • A sharp increase in body temperature up to 39 0 C.

If such symptoms appear, you must call an ambulance.

Contraindications to immunization

The use of oral vaccine is prohibited in the following cases:

  • A history of congenital immunodeficiency;
  • Planning pregnancy and the period of bearing a child by a woman who is in contact with the child;
  • History of various neurological reactions to vaccination;
  • Acute infectious diseases;
  • Lactation period;
  • Immunodeficiency in a child's family member;
  • Development of neoplasms;
  • Allergy to Polymyxin B, Streptomycin, Neomycin;
  • Carrying out immunosuppressive therapy;
  • Exacerbation of chronic pathologies during the period of immunization;
  • Diseases of non-infectious origin.

Administration of the IPV vaccine is contraindicated in the following cases:

  • Pregnancy and lactation period;
  • Hypersensitivity to Streptomycin and Neomycin;
  • History of allergy to this vaccine;
  • Presence of oncological pathologies;
  • Acute forms of diseases during the period of immunization.

Poliomyelitis is a serious viral disease that can lead to disability of the patient. The only reliable method of protection against infection is the polio vaccine. The vaccine is usually well tolerated and does not pose a threat to the child's health. However, in rare cases, the introduction of weakened viruses can lead to the development of vaccine-associated infection.

Vaccination always raises many questions, disputes and worries among parents. The polio vaccine, which can sometimes cause problems for children, tops the list of most needed childhood vaccines. After all, this severe disease affects motor neurons, causing paralysis and other dangerous changes in the body.

What is polio

Poliomyelitis is spinal paralysis in a child. After the virus enters the body and multiplies, it affects Gray matter spinal cord, as a result of which paralysis of the muscles develops, the neurons of which are more affected by the virus. This disease can only be prevented by the polio vaccine. When vaccinated, the child must be free of any respiratory diseases and exacerbation of chronic diseases.

The disease can occur in an erased or latent form (without symptoms), so sometimes it is quite difficult to identify it. Poliomyelitis is most common among children aged 6 months to 5 years. At this age, it is very difficult to keep track of the baby, so the risk of getting sick increases greatly. And given that polio is transmitted by airborne droplets, we conclude: you can get infected in the most unexpected place.

This is why the polio vaccine is so necessary. Many parents have always spoken out for and against vaccination. Find out the positive and negative points vaccinations can be found in this article.

The polio virus is volatile and resistant to external influences. It can persist in dairy products, water and stool up to six months. That is why in the twentieth century this disease took the form of an epidemic.

The causative agent of the virus

The causative agent of polio belongs to the picornavirus family of viruses and the group of enteroviruses (viruses that multiply in the intestines). Exists in the form of three independent strains. All these strains are usually contained in the polio vaccine. Side effects on the body will not harm the child's health.

The virus is a single-stranded RNA enclosed in a protein shell containing lipids. Not affected by environmental factors, resistant to freezing, but quickly dies when boiled. After entering the body, it multiplies in the tonsils, intestines and then affects the gray matter of the spinal cord, causing the destruction of motor neurons and atrophy of muscle tissue.

Symptoms of polio

You can quickly determine if a child has a disease based on symptoms. initial stage. Typically this is:

  • increased body temperature;
  • intestinal disorders;
  • severe headaches;
  • rapid fatigue of the body;
  • the appearance of convulsive seizures.

If the child has not been vaccinated, then the first stage quickly passes into the second, and paralysis and paresis occur, localized in the muscles of the limbs and the deltoid muscle. Less commonly, paralysis of the muscles of the face, neck and torso may occur. Vaccination against polio will help prevent possible infection. Reviews about the drugs used can be studied in detail on the Internet.

To protect your child from this dangerous disease, it is better to vaccinate against all three viruses that cause polio in advance. Otherwise, with paralysis of the diaphragm muscles, death is possible.

What is the polio vaccine?

A vaccine involves the introduction of a greatly weakened or killed virus into the body, as a result of which immunity to the disease will be developed. The multiplying virus will provoke the production of antibodies in the blood, and after some time it will be completely eliminated from the body, and the child will have the so-called “passive” immunization.

The effect of the polio vaccine depends directly on the site of its administration. There are oral and inactivated forms of the vaccine. The oral vaccine is dripped directly into the child's mouth, so it is more effective, but it can also cause complications.

Because the naturally occurring virus replicates in the gastrointestinal tract, an oral vaccine will help develop stronger immunity against polio.

The inactivated vaccine is administered by injection and is less dangerous for the child’s body. Both drugs contain three known strains of the virus, so vaccination completely protects the child from becoming infected with polio.

When is vaccination carried out?

IN medical institutions valid specific system childhood vaccinations:

  • at 3 months the first administration of inactivated vaccine (IPV) is carried out;
  • at 4.5 months - the second IPV is introduced;
  • at 6 months - third IPV;
  • at 18 months, repeated revaccination is carried out with the introduction of;
  • at 20 months - second revaccination with OPV;
  • At the age of 14, the last polio vaccination is given.

When all vaccines are given according to schedule, the child develops strong, lifelong immunity to the disease. In cases where the vaccination schedule has been violated, it is necessary to take care of individual monitoring and timely administration of the drug in order to protect your child from dangerous diseases. Proper vaccination will give your child lifelong immunity.

You can find out how many polio vaccinations you need to get directly from your doctor, or by studying this issue with the help of specialized literature.

Where is the polio vaccine administered?

The introduction has its own characteristics. administered orally - the pinkish liquid must be dripped onto the baby's lymphoid tissue pharynx; for older children, the vaccine is dripped onto the tonsils. This is necessary to prevent increased salivation, since getting the vaccine into the stomach neutralizes its effect (under the influence gastric juice it will collapse).

Note! If the baby regurgitates, the vaccine administration procedure will need to be repeated.

The inactivated vaccine is administered to children intramuscularly in the thigh area or subcutaneously in the scapula area. For older children, the vaccine is administered intramuscularly, in the shoulder area.

Polio vaccination: pros and cons of combination with DPT vaccine

The DPT vaccine is used to protect a child from whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. In our medical institutions, DTP and IPV are most often done together. The vaccine can be administered by two various drugs or in combination with drugs such as Infarix Gesta and Pentaxim.

Do not worry that the combination of IPV and DPT will cause more complications than one polio vaccine. Side effects from this combination of drugs do not increase and are often completely absent.

Immunologists have proven that the joint administration of vaccines contributes to the development of stable immunity to all diseases in a child. However, it is better to consult your doctor individually on this issue, since DTP is difficult for the body, and in some cases it is better not to combine these vaccines. When vaccinated healthy child no complications arise.

What drugs are used for vaccination

Complex or monovalent preparations can be used to immunize a child. Among the monovalent inactivated vaccines in our country, the following are popular:


For small child The only guarantee of protection against the disease is the polio vaccine. Reviews from parents and doctors about her are mostly positive. What can I say, it can generally be called vital necessary procedure. And if you follow the pediatrician’s recommendations, side effects will be minimal and safe for the baby’s health.

For complex vaccines, the following are used:


Live vaccine administered orally is not used and therefore is not produced in European countries. The live vaccine is produced in Russia and contains a stabilizer (magnesium chloride) and three known strains of the virus. Vaccination against polio, side effects which may lead to the development of vaccine-associated poliomyelitis, requires responsibility on the part of the doctor and parents when vaccinating the baby.

How to prepare your child for vaccination

Before the introduction of a live virus, the child must undergo an examination by a pediatrician, at which it will be decided whether he or she can be given this moment carry out vaccination. It is prohibited to vaccinate a child who lives in the same house as a pregnant woman if she is not vaccinated.

Important! Polio vaccination for children taking immunosuppressive drugs or having birth defects development of the gastrointestinal tract is strictly prohibited.

It is also worth paying attention to the results of previous vaccinations - whether there were any side effects and how the post-vaccination period proceeded.

After the oral vaccine is administered, the child should not be allowed to drink or eat for an hour; in this case, the vaccine will be destroyed and will not have an effect on the child’s development of immunity against polio.

Polio Vaccine: Side Effects and Health Hazards

When timely and correct vaccination is carried out, side effects occur in rare cases and are insignificant. It can be:

  • general weakness of the body;
  • slight increase in body temperature;
  • redness and slight swelling at the injection site.

Symptoms after vaccination against polio appear, as a rule, after 1-2 days, and after a few days they disappear without any intervention.

In very rare cases, when a live vaccine is administered, a child may develop vaccine-associated polio. It is important to note that such consequences from vaccination occur only if the child has congenital immunodeficiency, gastrointestinal malformations, or the person has AIDS. In all other cases, polio vaccination is safe.

against polio

The administration of live oral vaccine is strictly prohibited when:

  • the presence of malignant tumors;
  • neurological disorders (in particular those caused by previous vaccination);
  • exacerbation chronic diseases or the presence of acute diseases;
  • immunodeficiencies (AIDS, HIV).

Every child needs to be vaccinated, but taking into account his individual characteristics. During breastfeeding or pregnancy, a woman can be vaccinated against polio, if necessary. Each parent decides for himself whether to vaccinate his child against polio. But it’s still better to overcome your fears and protect your baby from such a dangerous disease through timely vaccination.