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Immunization has saved more lives in Canada in the last 50 years than any other health measure.
The polio vaccine protects against infection from the polio virus. The vaccine, called Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), is approved by Health Canada.
Polio vaccine is given mostly as one booster dose or shot to adults who had a series of polio vaccine in childhood and will be working or traveling in an area of the world where polio still occurs.
A series of polio vaccine doses can be given to people who have not been vaccinated yet and who may be exposed to polioviruses through work or travel.
A vaccine series includes two doses given 4 to 8 weeks apart, and a third dose given 6 to 12 months after the second.
In young children, immunization against polio is combined with other vaccines, such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b. For more information on the combined vaccines, see HealthLink BC File #105 Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio, and Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib) Vaccine.
The polio vaccine series can also be given to infants and children who have already received protection from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and Hib in other vaccines.
It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get polio disease.
Common reactions to the vaccine may include fever, and soreness, swelling or redness where the shot was given.
| Acetaminophen or Tylenol® can be given for fever or soreness. ASA or Aspirin® should NOT be given to anyone under 20 years of age due to the risk of Reye Syndrome. |
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this happens after you leave the clinic, call 911 or the local emergency number. This reaction can be treated, and occurs in less than one in a million people who get the vaccine.
Report serious or unexpected reactions to your public health nurse or doctor.
Speak with a public health nurse or doctor if you have had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of any polio vaccine or any component of the vaccine, including neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B.
Polio is a disease caused by infection with the polio virus. While some polio infections show no symptoms, others can result in paralysis of arms or legs and even death.
Polio virus is contained in the bowel movements (stool) of infected people. If stool contaminates the hands, water or food, others can become infected.
Due to immunization, polio has been eliminated in many parts of the world. In 1994, Canada was certified as a “polio free” country. Within the last 30 years, the only polio cases in British Columbia were non-vaccinated residents who had contact with polio-infected visitors from another country.
It is recommended that parents or guardians and their children discuss consent for immunization. Efforts are first made to seek parental/guardian or representative consent prior to immunization. However, children under the age of 19, who are able to understand the benefits and possible reactions for each vaccine and the risk of not getting immunized, can legally consent to or refuse immunizations.
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For more HealthLink BC File topics, visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca/healthfiles/index.stm or your local public health unit. Click on www.HealthLinkBC.ca or call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information and services in B.C. For deaf and hearing-impaired assistance, call 7-1-1 in B.C. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages on request. |
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