Question

For this discussion, each of you will research a vaccine from the information provided on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website: Basics of Vaccines. In your primary post, in 3-4 paragraphs provide the following information about the vaccine you chose:

a. Name of vaccine

b. Organism and disease it is used to prevent, and symptoms/consequences of the disease

c. Route of disease transmission and at-risk populations

d. Who should get the vaccine

e. Vaccine Safety

f. Risks of Vaccination

g. Your estimation of the relative risks of vaccination vs. risk of getting the disease

Answer 1

Vaccines are suspension of weakened or killed microbes or may be toxins or antibodies that improves the immunity towards a particular disease. Vaccines triggers the production of antibodies like when one is exposed to the disease. Thus, vaccination aids in attaining immunity without getting the disease. When a vaccinated person encounters the disease later his immune system is able to recognize and destroy the specific microorganisms. Many vaccines have been discovered in order to prevent several diseases.

Name of the vaccine

Polio vaccine

There are two types of vaccine that prevents polio: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). IPV is given as injection in the leg or arm depending on the patient’s age, whereas OPV is orally administered.

The list of polio vaccine include: Polio (Ipol), DTaP-IPV (Kinrix, Quadracel), DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix), DTaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel)

Organism and disease it is used to prevent, and symptoms/consequences of the disease

Poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis is an acute communicable disease caused by poliovirus (a single stranded RNA virus). This disease is easily preventable by polio vaccine. Majority of polio infections present no symptoms. Symptomatic polio may be non-paralytic or paralytic.

Non-paralytic or abortive polio shows flu-like symptoms (including fever, headache, sore throat, fatigue, stiffness of legs and arms, muscle tenderness, etc.) that can last for few days or weeks.

Severe forms polio (paralytic polio) can cause muscle weakness, paralysis, and may result in death. Initial symptoms of paralytic polio resemble non-paralytic polio but later progresses into serious symptoms like severe pain in muscles and development of spasms, loss of muscle reflexes, loose limbs, paralysis of arms and legs, breathing problem (Spinal polio- when virus attacks the spinal cord); difficulty in vision, swallowing and sensing taste (bulbar polio); or bulbospinal polio – resulting in a combination of both groups of symptoms.

Route of disease transmission and at-risk populations

Poliovirus is a communicable disease and hence is easily transmitted from one person to another by oral contact with secretions or fecal matter of the affected person. When the virus enters the central nervous system they destroy the motor neurons thus affecting the activity of muscles.

Cases of Polio has decreased by over 99% in the recent times compared to earlier as a result of global effort to eradicate the disease. Polio has been eradicated in all the countries except Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.

Polio can be acquired at any age, but mainly affects children under the age of three. Pregnant women are also susceptible to polio virus.

Who should get the vaccine?

Polio vaccines can provide lifelong immunity. They are recommended in a four dose series in children at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months, and 4 through 6 years. People travelling to countries where polio is endemic should be immunized. Healthcare personnel who are in close contact with the patient should be vaccinated as well. Apart from this, lab workers who handle specimens should also be immunized. Pregnant or breast-feeding women who are risk should be given the vaccine.

IPV is given to adults in three doses. Initial dose can be given at any time, second dose 1 to 2 months later, third dose should be given 6 to 12 months following the second dose.

Vaccine safety

At least three doses of IPV, live OPV, or four doses of combination of IPV and OPV ensure full immunization. Since OPV has live attenuated vaccine virus there is an extremely rare risk of vaccine associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP). Hence, OPV is no longer used in countries like the United States, but is used in other countries where there is high risk of transmission. OPV is used for global eradication in polio endemic countries since it is beneficial over IPV in providing intestinal immunity as well as protect from secondary spread of the infection.

Risks of Vaccination

Polio vaccination is considered to be very safe.

In some cases people may get mild side effects like redness or pain in the area of the shot that may go away within two to three days. In rare cases some may develop fever, muscle pain, or local reactions. In extremely rare cases, it can cause severe allergic reactions especially those who are allergic to certain antibiotics or vaccinations. People who are moderately or severely ill can also get affected and hence should wait until full recovery before receiving the shot.

Relative risks of vaccination vs. risk of getting the disease

Considering the above facts it is certain that risk of getting the disease is worse than the risk of vaccination. Risks of vaccination is mild that go away within a few days but acquiring the disease can result in life-long complications.