In this viral disease, in addition to “silent” and less severe courses of the disease, we know of courses with many complications, which are accompanied by severe paralysis and often mean permanent damage for those affected. There is no causal treatment for the disease that has broken out.
Worldwide eradication of polio has also not yet been achieved. Travel to “non-polio-free” regions or contact with people coming from such regions makes infection possible in the absence of vaccination.
In contrast to the vaccine previously used in Germany, the vaccine now recommended no longer receives pathogens capable of replication. The previously existing risk of paralysis after vaccination therefore no longer exists.
Vaccination: inactivated vaccine, injection into the muscle
Who should get vaccinated?
Everyone should have full vaccination protection against polio. Travelers to regions with infection risks, medical personnel with contact to infected persons and, if necessary, laboratory personnel should have their vaccination documentation checked and, if vaccination protection is lacking, complete it.
Timing of vaccination:
First vaccination after the completed second month of life. The number of vaccinations depends on the type of vaccine chosen (3 to 4). To minimize the number of injections, combination vaccines should be used whenever possible.
A booster vaccination is recommended for adolescents between the ages of 9 and 17.
Most common vaccine reactions:
Redness, swelling and mild pain at the vaccination site; rarely fever and headache.