Hi,

This is for the parents whose kids have taken their initial immunization in US (say for first nine months including polio vaccines) and are in India now, are you letting have your kids polio drops on 15 Jan. I am bit confused whether to give it or not as in India they give drops and in US they are vaccinated for prevention of polio so do they require it or not. Most likely I am going ahead and letting her have it as I feel it is harmless unless anyone of you can throw some light on this.

Thanks in advance
Meenu

P.S I am gonna be in India with my kid for atleast a year
unknown replied.
Its good to give at hospital or reputed places. but it never gives rise to poliyo. If it is not well con. it gives diarroea and vomiting in some cases(very rare)
well wisher. padma replied. Hi Meenu,

It is good that you want to give her the OPV during the 15th Pulse. But be sure that you go to a 'reputed' hospital, pay for the vaccine and get it administered either in a doc's presense or in the ER.

Why? Well, the OPV's in the camps and in Railway stations, select Malls, theatres et al, keep the vaccines either in an insulated box or in some kind of mobile deep freezer. Both are not foolproof as i have noticed the insulated boxes being of low quality. Also, on a power out, most of these mobile freezers are not backed up with a generator and use of the reserve cooling (I am an AC and Refrig person)..

OPV are live polio cultures that have to be in a temp to limit the dosage per mg. In an uncontroller (read high-temp) situation, they multiply and end up infecting the baby than protecting. This has happened in india and even in the US (that's why they use only Injectible PV now, ref. internet for the cases).

Not to scare you, but please avoid the 'public' camps.

Love to your little one.
Padma