POLIO VACCINE

Course overview

POLIOMYELITIS IS A VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASE CAUSED BY THE POLIOVIRUS. THIS VIRUS IS HIGHLY INFECTIOUS, SPREADING FROM PERSON TO PERSON MAINLY THROUGH THE FECAL-ORAL ROUTE. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 ARE MOST COMMONLY INFECTED. SEVENTY-TWO PERCENT OF INFECTED CHILDREN WILL REMAIN ASYMPTOMATIC BUT CONTINUE TO SHED THE VIRUS THAT MAY INFECT OTHERS. MOST NOTABLY, THE VIRUS'S INVASION OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT MORBIDITY, INCLUDING PARALYSIS OF THE EXTREMITIES OR THE DIAPHRAGM. THERE IS NO CURE FOR POLIO, THUS PREVENTION IS KEY. TODAY THE CDC RECOMMENDS THE POLIO VACCINE SERIES AMONG THE LIST OF ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE MODE OF ACTION OF POLIO VACCINES, INCLUDING MODES OF ADMINISTRATION, FORMULATIONS, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILES, ELIGIBLE PATIENT POPULATIONS, MONITORING, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PATIENTS.