Expert dispels myths on polio

What is polio?

Polio is an incurable disease caused by a viral infection, which usually spreads via contaminated food and water. This disease often affects the younger children, and paralyses one or more limbs for life.

Why is polio vaccination being done repeatedly?

Children upto 5 years of age need to be protected from this disease. Repeated vaccination increases the immunity of these children to resist this disease.  

Should newborns be vaccinated soon after birth?

Yes. Newborn children should be vaccinated, even after few hours of their birth. 

Can polio vaccine be given to children suffering from cough, cold, fever, diarrhoea or other ailments?

Yes, this vaccine can safely be given under these conditions. The polio vaccine has no side effects in such type of diseases. 

Should this vaccine be given again to those children who have been given the vaccine already?

Yes. Repeated vaccination at short intervals enhances the child's ability to resist the polio disease.

If a child has taken all pulse polio doses, should he/she get routine immunisation?

Yes. A pulse polio vaccination helps to protect a child against polio only. Routine immunisation vaccines protect against other diseases also, such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles etc.

Some children suffer from polio even after getting vaccinated. What is the use of getting my child vaccinated if the disease can occur even in vaccinated children?

The risk of getting the polio disease after vaccination is negligible. This vaccine has prevented millions of paralyses from Polio throughout the world. Children will develop immunity against the disease only after vaccination. Some children are unable to develop sufficient immunity against the disease due to various reasons like repeated episodes of diarrhea, malnutrition etc. 

There are many other fatal diseases like malaria, measles etc affecting the children. Why is there so much emphasis on polio only? Why are the teams moving house to house for vaccination?

This disease is one of the few diseases that can be eradicated. Polio can be eradicated by vaccination as was done for small pox. As the polio vaccine is given orally, it can be given house to house. Prevention and treatment of other diseases is also available at the nearest health centre.

Is it true that this vaccine can cause infertility?

These rumours are baseless and wrong. Polio vaccine is being used from last 50 years. Many countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh etc are using this vaccine. The Government of Saudi Arabia has made it mandatory for Haj travellers from endemic countries to take the polio vaccine irrespective of age and previous vaccination status.

How long will the polio vaccination campaign continue?

The pulse polio campaigns will continue till the disease is eradicated from the world.

Can child be given something to eat or drink immediately after he is vaccinated?

Yes, your child can safely be given something to eat or drink after vaccination.

Now there is no polio case in India. Is it still important for us to take the vaccine?

Polio transmission is going on in countries like Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and there is a risk of virus importation from these countries to India. In the past, polio virus was transmitted from India to many countries and there are chances of getting it back through same routes.