In the world, there are many dangerous diseases that modern people have successfully forgotten due to properly developed vaccines. Poliomyelitis, or polio, is an infectious disease provoked by poliovirus and transmitted from person to person or through contaminated food and water (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022b). It usually infects the spinal cord and leads to paralysis of a person. In the middle of the 20th century, the first polio vaccine was introduced to Americans to improve the quality of human life and predict the spread of this disease. CDC (2022a) highly recommends getting this vaccine early because there is no specific cure to be offered to a person diagnosed with polio. There are several periods when a polio vaccine is required: two months, four months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years (CDC, 2022a). Thus, childhood immunization is one of the most effective steps to build herd immunity and protect against poliomyelitis.
Despite the intention to impose polio vaccination among the general population, there are several situations when this vaccine cannot be prescribed. For example, people with severe and life-threatening allergies to a previously inactivated polio vaccine cannot get it (CDC, 2022a). Besides, doctors do not recommend vaccination if the patient does not feel well at the moment because of a cold or other mild illnesses. In most cases, all adults have got the vaccine today, and those who reject this intervention must be aware of the risks related to traveling or specific working conditions. In general, the polio vaccine has significantly improved overall public health. Before its introduction, about 2-10 out of 100 people paralyzed due to poliovirus died because it was impossible to breathe with damaged or not-working muscles (CDC, 2022a). Millions of human lives have been saved, contributing to survival and high-quality treatment. Polio vaccination should not be ignored, and children must be protected by following healthcare providers’ recommendations.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022a). Polio vaccination: What everyone should know. CDC. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022b). What is polio? CDC. Web.