Why should I take the vaccine?💡

The vaccine shields your infant from polio, a disease that can result in paralysis by invading the spinal cord. Poliovirus is highly transmissible and propagates through the sneeze, touch, or cough of an afflicted individual. Polio vaccines are highly effective, guarding your little one  from contracting the infection.

How to get the vaccine?💉

To complete the IPV vaccine, you'll need four doses of the polio shots. The second shot of the vaccine is recommended to get when your baby is around 4 months old, which is 2 months after the first dose. You should have an appointment for the second dose if you have had the first shot. If you don't, don't hesitate to contact your pediatrician now and make an appointment before the time passes!

TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: 

Any side effects of the vaccine?

The spot where the shot was given could turn red, swell, and little pain could come along as well, which could annoy your little one! Fortunately, this isn't serious and the pain will go away within one day or two, but your baby might cry and whine with the discomfort, so you might get exhausted on the same day. 

Is the polio virus a serious disease?

Poliovirus causes paralyzing, which could continue lifelong. Even children who appear to have made a complete recovery might experience new muscle pain, weakness, or paralysis as adults after 15 to 40 years. 

Paralysis could also appear on the muscles responsible for breathing, which is very serious because it could lead a child to death. This happens to approximately 2 to 10 children out of every 100 with poliovirus, so preventing the infection by getting the vaccine is very important.