Posted on July 4, 2009 in latest news
There are two types of polio vaccines used: injected dose and oral polio vaccine.
Who developed the first Vaccine for Polio?
The first polio vaccine in form of injection was developed by Jonas Salk in 1955. Albert Sabin developed first oral polio vaccine in 1957 and it was licensed in 1962.
What does the polio vaccine do? – Polio and Immunization:
Polio is a nervous system disorder caused by poliomyelitis or polio virus. This virus enters the human body through mouth and paralyzes the muscles that it reaches. It can paralyze hands and legs and even cause death if respiratory muscles are victims of the virus.
Polio vaccine immunizes the body from polio virus. In almost all countries polio vaccination is a must for children below 5 years of age. Children get four doses of injected polio vaccine at these ages: A dose at 2 months, a dose at 4 months, a dose at 6-18 months and a booster dose at 4-6 years.
How does polio vaccine works:
Vaccination means immunization. The polio vaccine contains live virus particles which are altered or attenuated in order to stop them from producing the effects of actual disease. Basic principle is to fool the body’s defence to think that it is under attack of virus. This makes the body produce antibodies to fight polio virus if it is encountered in future. Once this attenuated virus particles gets settled in the bowel, the body forms antibodies in the bloodstream. The vaccine includes three types of poliomyelitis virus (Type 1, 2 and 3).
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