- When to get the vaccine
- How the preparation should be
- When not to take
- Possible side effects of the vaccine
The polio vaccine, also known as VIP or OPV, is a vaccine that protects children from 3 different types of the virus that cause this disease, popularly known as infantile paralysis.
To ensure protection, it is necessary to take 5 doses of the vaccine and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the first 3 doses be applied through an injection (VIP) in the baby's thigh muscle and the other 2 doses can be made by injection or oral droplets (OPV).
Thus, the complete vaccination against polio must be in accordance with the following schedule:
- 2 months: through injection - VIP; 4 months: through injection - VIP; 6 months: through injection - VIP; 15 months: 2 drops applied to the mouth or injection - VOP or VIP; 4 years: 2 drops applied to the mouth or injection - VOP or VIP.
All children up to 5 years old must participate in the polio vaccination program and it is important that parents bring the immunization booklet to record the vaccine administration. See which other vaccines are part of the child vaccination calendar. Polio vaccine is free and offered by the Unified Health System, and must be applied at health posts by a health professional.
When to get the vaccine
The vaccine against childhood paralysis should be made from 6 weeks of age and up to 5 years of age. However, people who have not had this vaccine can get vaccinated, even in adulthood.
How the preparation should be
In order to take the injectable vaccine (VIP), no special preparation is necessary, however, if the baby receives the oral vaccine (OPV), it is advisable to stop breastfeeding up to 1 hour beforehand, to avoid the risk of golfing. If the baby vomits or golf after the vaccine, a new dose should be taken to ensure protection.
When not to take
The polio vaccine should not be given to children with weakened immune systems, caused by diseases such as AIDS, cancer or after organ transplantation, for example. In such cases, children should go to the pediatrician first, and if the latter indicates immunization against polio, the vaccine should be made at Special Immunobiological Reference Centers.
In addition, vaccination should be postponed if the child is ill, with vomiting or diarrhea, as the vaccine may not be absorbed. Know when vaccination is contraindicated.
Possible side effects of the vaccine
The childhood paralysis vaccine rarely has side effects, however, in some cases, fever, malaise, diarrhea and headache may occur. If the child begins to show symptoms of paralysis, which is an extremely rare complication, parents should take him to the hospital as soon as possible. See what are the main symptoms of polio.
In addition to this vaccine, the child needs to take others such as, for example, the vaccine against Hepatitis B or Rotavirus, for example. Get to know the complete baby vaccination schedule.
