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Poliomyelitis Vaccines (OPV and IPV): Helping Parents and Caregivers Make Informed Decisions

Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that can lead to total paralysis within hours. The polio vaccine is crucial in protecting children from this serious illness. There are two main types of polio vaccines: Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV).

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Types of Polio Vaccines

  • Live Attenuated Poliovirus Vaccines (OPV)
    Monovalent Oral Polio Vaccine (mOPV): Used during mass vaccination campaigns for children aged 0-59 months in response to outbreaks of specific types.
    Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV): Used in routine immunization or to respond to an outbreak of either type 1 or 3.
  • Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV)
    – Contains serotypes 1, 2, and 3 and is used in countries that have eradicated wild poliomyelitis to maintain immune status.

Why It's Important For Children's Health

Polio can cause irreversible paralysis and even death. Vaccinating your child against polio helps protect them from this devastating disease and contributes to the global effort to eradicate polio.

Benefits

Prevention of Serious Illnesses: The polio vaccine is highly effective in preventing polio, which can cause paralysis and death.
Reduced Risk of Complications: Vaccination can help reduce the risk of complications and hospitalizations associated with polio.

Risks and Side Effects

Common Side Effects: The IPV may cause soreness at the injection site. The OPV can cause mild symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and headache.
Rare but Serious Side Effects: In very rare cases, the OPV can cause vaccine-derived poliomyelitis. The IPV does not have this risk.

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