Why do you immunize against polio?

Immunization against polio is essential for several reasons:

1. Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It can spread through contact with the feces or saliva of an infected person or through contaminated food or water.

2. Polio can cause permanent paralysis in as few as one in 200 cases. Paralysis can affect the arms, legs, or breathing muscles. In severe cases, polio can lead to death.

3. There is no cure for polio. Once a person is infected, there is no treatment that can stop the virus from causing damage.

4. The polio vaccine is highly effective in preventing the disease. Two doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) or three doses of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) can provide immunity against all three types of poliovirus.

5. Polio immunization has led to a dramatic decrease in the number of cases of polio worldwide. In 1988, there were an estimated 350,000 cases of polio worldwide. By 2021, there were only six wild poliovirus cases reported globally.

6. Polio eradication is a global health goal. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is working to eradicate polio from the world by vaccinating children in every country. Polio immunization is an essential part of reaching this goal.

7. Polio eradication has other benefits beyond preventing the disease itself. It can also help to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance for other diseases.