What you need to know about polio vaccination

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Diem Thuy - Vaccine Consultant - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

Polio is a dangerous infectious disease. Children with the disease can lead to death or leave paralysis and disability for life. Currently, there is a vaccine to prevent polio.

Polio is a dangerous infectious disease, caused by the Polio virus and very easily transmitted through the gastrointestinal tract.
Polio virus includes 3 types: 1, 2 and 3. After entering the body, the virus will invade the central nervous system, causing damage to motor neurons. The disease can be fatal or leave irreversible paralysis and lifelong disability.
Most children infected with the polio virus have no symptoms, but others develop respiratory muscle paralysis, respiratory failure and possibly death. When the disease is cured, it can leave paralysis for life.
Polio is transmitted from person to person through the gastrointestinal tract, mainly through water and food.

In Vietnam, before the polio vaccine was available, polio was one of the leading causes of death and severe sequelae in children under 5 years of age. Thanks to the implementation of polio vaccine, Vietnam has controlled polio since 2000. Over the past 10 years, Vietnam has continued to protect this achievement.
In addition to giving children 3 doses of tOPV polio vaccine as part of routine immunization for children 2, 3 and 4 months, additional polio vaccination campaigns have been launched in at-risk areas. high. Therefore, Vietnam maintains this achievement while the polio virus continues to circulate in the world.
However, along with the expansion of international exchanges, the risk of polio transmission still exists in our country.

There are 2 types of polio vaccines:
Live attenuated oral vaccine (OPV): Contains live attenuated poliovirus, which stimulates the body to create immunity. This immunity helps the body to defend against the virus from entering the body. Injectable Inactivated Vaccine (IPV): Contains dead poliovirus that stimulates the body to create immunity against disease. This vaccine can be combined with other vaccines. In particular, the oral OPV vaccine containing 3 types of polio antigen (tOPV) 1,2,3 has been deployed for children 2, 3 and 4 months old around the world over the past 50 years. However, at the request of the World Health Organization, Vietnam will use a new oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) consisting of 2 polio strains 1 and 3 (polio 1, 3), and polio strains 2 vaccine will be administered. Therefore, as of June 2016, the Expanded Program on Immunization will switch to using 2-type OPV vaccine (bOPV) to replace the previous 3-type oral polio vaccine (tOPV). The vaccine is confirmed to be safe and highly effective in preventing polio.

In order to actively prevent the disease and prevent polio from returning at any time, in addition to deploying polio vaccine for children under 1 year of age with a single vaccine, the combination vaccines are also manufactured by the manufacturer. Pay attention to the integration of anti-polio ingredients.
Currently, at service points of vaccination, combination vaccines with polio components include:
6 in 1 Infanrix Hexa (Belgium) and 6 in 1 Hexaxim (France) vaccines 6 diseases including: polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B and diseases caused by bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). Pentaxim 5 in 1 vaccine (France) prevents 5 diseases including: polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and diseases caused by bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). Tetraxim 4-in-1 vaccine (France) protects against 4 diseases of polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus.

The Expanded Immunization Program is implementing two types of polio vaccines, including OPV oral polio vaccine and IPV injectable vaccine. In addition, the combined polio vaccine is only available at the service points of vaccination.
Vaccination against polio by oral or injectable vaccine is equally effective in preventing the disease. However, if children are vaccinated with polio component in the combination vaccines, they will both prevent polio and have antibodies to protect against many other dangerous diseases. The choice of polio vaccine injection or oral, expanded vaccine or service depends on the choice and conditions of each family.

The oral and polio vaccination schedule of the expanded program of immunization is:
3 doses of polio vaccine (OPV) are given at 2, 3 and 4 months of age, and 1 dose of polio vaccine will be given at 5 months of age. apply for polio (IPV). For service vaccination, injections containing polio components include:
6 in 1 Infanrix Hexa (Belgium) and 6 in 1 Hexaxim (France) vaccines, 5 in 1 Pentaxim (France) vaccines, Vaccines Tetraxim 4 disease prevention (France): 3 main injections from 2, 3, 4 months old. The fourth dose is repeated when the child is 16 to 18 months old. Currently, there is a campaign to drink polio vaccine, whereby, children under 5 years old who have not received any oral or injected vaccine containing polio vaccine within the past 4 weeks will receive polio vaccine. As a key area of ​​Vinmec Medical system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All are well-trained, professional, with a mind - range, understanding young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. Reference source: tiemchung.gov; vncdc.gov