Poliovirus is responsible for causing a deadly disease, polio. This virus is known to spread from person to person. Also known as poliomyelitis, polio is a life-threatening disease that can infect a person’s spinal cord. As a result, it can lead to paralysis, a condition in which a person cannot move his body parts.
As it’s a serious disease, people consider getting the polio vaccine in New York City to get protection against the deadly virus. If you have not yet been vaccinated against this disease, the time has come to get this vaccine today.
This article describes the symptoms of polio, who should get the polio vaccine, and who should avoid it.
Polio Symptoms –
Many people suffering from this disease do not show any visible symptoms. But some show flu-like signs such as fever, sore throat, nausea, headache, fatigue, or stomach pain. These signs may last for up to 5 days.
Some people get more serious symptoms that can negatively affect the functioning of their brain and spinal cord. They can develop the following conditions –
Meningitis – It’s a condition that negatively affects the spinal cord and brain. A person suffering from poliovirus infection is more likely to develop this condition.
Paralysis – Often known as limb weakness, paralysis is also a common condition in people suffering from polio infection. In this condition, viruses can affect the functioning of the legs, arms, or both. Sometimes, it can lead to permanent disability or even death of a person. Death arises due to its effect on muscles that help a person breathe.
Post-Polio Syndrome – Even if a child recovers from this disease, he can still experience the signs such as muscle weakness, pain, or paralysis.
Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Polio ?
Many people get the polio vaccine in New York to stay protected against this infection. If you need clarification on whether you should get it, here is a piece of information for you.
Children –
Every infant or child should get four doses of polio vaccine. The dosage schedule is as follows-
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- Between 6 months to 1.5 years old
- Between 4 to 6 years old
If you are the parents of a child who has yet to get vaccinated against this deadly disease, you should consult a doctor about the vaccination schedule. If your baby is between the above-listed vaccination schedule, you can start as soon as possible and follow the series after consulting with a doctor.
Adults
The majority of adults are required to have poliovirus vaccination in childhood. Yet, if you’re uncertain about your vaccination status, getting a polio vaccine is advisable.
If you are fully vaccinated but at risk of poliovirus exposure, you can consider getting a single IPV booster dose. The risk may include travel to nations with high risk.
Here we describe some common situations where a person is at an increased risk of getting this polio infection when;
- A person plans to travel to an area with an increased risk of polio infection.
- A person is a caregiver and has close contact with someone suffering from poliovirus.
- A person works in a healthcare facility and deals with samples containing polioviruses.
In case you have never been vaccinated against this disease, you can consider getting three IPV doses at the following schedule –
- You can get the first dose of the IPV vaccine at any time.
- You can get a second dose of the IPV vaccine after 1 or 2 months of the first dose.
- You can get a third dose of the IPV vaccine after 6 to 12 months of the second IPV vaccine dose.
If you already had one or two doses of the polio vaccine earlier but forgot to get the remaining doses, consider getting them now. It’s best to consult your doctor before getting a vaccination.
Who Should Not Get This Vaccine ?
In case a person had serious allergies after polio vaccine in the past-
If a person is suffering from severe life-threatening allergies after getting the polio vaccine, he should avoid getting it. Consulting a doctor could be advised in such a situation. He can guide you in the best possible way and help you make an informed decision on getting the polio vaccine.
In Case A Person Does Not Feel Well Before Getting The Vaccine –
If a person has a high fever or is severely ill, he should wait a few days to get the vaccination. But if he suffers from cold symptoms, he can get the vaccine. It’s best to consult a healthcare professional about getting this vaccine.
Get Polio Vaccine And Stay Healthy –
If you live in New York and have yet to be vaccinated against this deadly disease, you can schedule your appointment with the best travel clinic near you. Get the polio vaccine in New York City today and protect yourself against this virus. Most importantly, if you are traveling to any other country with the risk of getting this infection, you should consult your doctor about the booster dose.