| Polio is an illness that can lead to paralysis of your arms and or legs and can lead to death. Although eradicated in the United States, the virus that causes polio still exists in other parts of the world. There are two types of polio vaccine, an oral form (Sabin Vaccine) that will no longer be used in the United States after Jan. 1, 2000, and an inactivated injectable form (Salk Vaccine) that will be used instead. Your child will receive three doses of the vaccine by the time they are 18 months old and a booster when he is four to six years old.
Children who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B or to a previous dose of IPV vaccine should not receive this vaccine.
Children who are immunosuppressed or around other people who are immunosuppressed (receiving chemotherapy or long-term steroids or has HIV) should not receive the OPV vaccine.
A serious problem that can occur after receiving the oral polio vaccine is that it can cause you to have vaccine associated paralytic polio (VAPP). This is however very rare and only occurs in 1 out of every 2.4 million children who receive the vaccine.
Mild problems and side effects that can occur after receiving the IPV vaccine include mild soreness where the shot is given. It is safer for immunizing people with immune system problems or their close contacts and can not cause polio.
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| Are your children's immunizations up to date? Use our Vaccine Schedule program to print a customized immunization schedule for your child. |
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