Hello Mommies,
Recently I commited a big mistake and I wanted to share it wih all of you so that you never repeat the same mistake. I always assumed that my LO was getting her dose of polio vaccines as the doctors gave us a chart and the vaccines have been ticked. I never thought I should go through the pulse polio routine (the one the government provides). But recently I got to know that the vaccine is also essential along with the one we get at the doctors office, as its a community initiative to fight the virus together. So never ever make the mistake and get your LO’s immunised during ever drive. The next one is on February 23rd 2014.
What is pulse polio: from the wiki
Pulse Polio is an immunisation campaign established by the government of India in 1995-96 to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio) in India by vaccinating all children under the age of five years against polio virus. This project deals with the ways to fight poliomyelitis through a large scale immunization programme, co-operating with various international institutions, state governments and Non Governmental Organizations.
How does this effect the community
Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) involves providing additional OPV doses to every child aged <5 years at intervals of 4-6 weeks. The aim of PPI is to “flood” the community with OPV within a very short period of time, thereby interrupting transmission of virus throughout the community.
Child who has not received any polio vaccination so far: OPV at birth, IPV at 6, 10 and 14 weeks, OPV at 6 months and 9 months, IPV at 15-18 mths and OPV at 5 years. OPV on all pulse polio immunization days.
Child who has completed primary series of OPV: IPV may be offered as catch up vaccination for children less than 5 years of age who have completed primary immunization with OPV. IPV can be given two doses at 2 month interval. OPV need not be given with these IPV doses.
Reference: http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/diseasesandcondition/article.aspx?artid=400
