Polio (poliomyelitis) Vaccine

Polio (also known as poliomyelitis) is an infectious disease that’s caused by a virus¹.

If you are not immunised, you can contract polio if your food, hands or water are contaminated with the faeces (poo) of an infected person.

Although it is rare to get polio in Australia, it has not been completely eradicated around the world and all adults and children should receive a polio vaccine.

¹Better Health Victoria, Polio - immunisation, accessed 9 February 2023

Most people who become infected with the polio virus are not even aware that they have the infection and do not become ill.

Some people may experience symptoms of polio that include¹:

• Fever

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Weak or tender muscles

• Pain or stiffness in the arms, legs, back and neck

Fewer than 1 in every 100 people² who become infected with polio develop severe muscle weakness in the arms, legs, head, neck and the diaphragm, which is a vital muscle for breathing.

Although some people fully recover from polio, others develop irreversible paralysis and others die from the disease.

¹Better Health Victoria, Polio and the late effects of polio, accessed 9 February 2023

²Healthdirect, Polio (poliomyelitis), accessed 21 March 2023

As the polio virus is highly contagious, it can spread quickly through infected saliva or faeces (poo) through contaminated food and water¹.

The virus can live in faeces for up to 35 days before the person infected shows any symptoms.

As the virus is highly contagious and people are unaware that they have the disease, it can be spread to thousands of people before they know they have it.

¹Better Health Victoria, Polio and the late effects of polio, accessed 9 February 2023

You can be diagnosed with polio after visiting your doctor. Your doctor will¹:

• Take a medical history

• Rule out other explanation for your symptoms

• Perform a physical exam that focuses on abnormal reflexes and swallowing and breathing problems

Your doctor will also test for polio in a sample of your throat, faeces or your cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord).

¹Better Health Victoria, Polio and the late effects of polio, accessed 9 February 2023

Polio can be found around the world, as some countries still have recent polio outbreaks, including¹:

• Pakistan

• Chad

• Central African Republic

• Indonesia

• Nigeria

• Somalia

• Yemen

• Afghanistan

• Egypt

• Gambia

¹Polio Eradication, Polio this week as of 01 February 2023, accessed 8 February 2023

The Late Effects of Polio (LEoP) is an umbrella term that describes symptoms related to a history of polio¹.

There is no test that will definitely show that you have the late effects of polio.

It is caused by a range of factors related to the original polio infection, including¹:

• Muscle fatigue or pain due to reduced muscle tissue

• Increased stress on joints that lead to arthritis

• Reduced bone density from a long term lack of weight bearing activity

There is no specific treatment for LEoP, but symptoms may be improved if you avoid stress, avoid exposure to cold temperatures and modify your daily activities to conserve energy.

¹Better Health Victoria, Polio and the late effects of polio, accessed 9 February 2023

There is no cure for polio, so treatment aims to manage the effects of the disease¹.

Treatments may include:

• Medicines for pain relief or to reduce muscle spasms

• Intensive care in hospital that can include help with breathing

• Physiotherapy that aids recovery from paralysis

¹Healthdirect, Polio (poliomyelitis), accessed 9 February 2023

Apart from being immunised from polio, you can help reduce your risk of getting polio by¹:

• Getting a booster when you travel to countries with polio (including Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Angola or Chad)

• Getting a booster if you look after patients with polio

• Getting vaccinated if you were not vaccinated against polio as a child

¹Healthdirect, Polio (poliomyelitis), accessed 9 February 2023

The polio vaccine is your best protection against polio and is recommended for all infants, children and adults who are available to get the vaccine.

You need four doses of the inactivated polio vaccine before your body becomes immunised and is fully protected from polio¹.

¹Better Health Victoria, Polio and the late effects of polio, accessed 9 February 2023

Some common side effects of the polio vaccine include¹:

• Pain, redness and swelling at the injection side

• Fever

• Muscle aches

However, these side effects are usually temporary. If they persist, please reach out to your doctor.

You can reduce these side effects by drinking extra fluids and not overdressing if you are experiencing a fever.

¹Better Health Victoria, Polio and the late effects of polio, accessed 9 February 2023

The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends the polio vaccine for a range of people, including¹:

• Infants at two, four, and six months and then again at four years

• Adults who are travelling to polio endemic regions

• Adults who are laboratory workers who handle specimens that contain live poliovirus

Booster doses of the vaccine are recommended every 10 years for at-risk adults. A full course of the polio vaccine is recommended to those who weren’t vaccinated against polio as children.

¹Better Health Victoria, Polio and the late effects of polio, accessed 9 February 2023

The polio combination vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for children aged two months, four months, six months and four years¹.

Eligible people under 20 years old, refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age can get a free catch-up vaccination if they didn’t receive their vaccines in childhood.

If you are eligible for a vaccination under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), you may need to confirm with your selected Blooms The Chemist pharmacy about their NIP vaccine stock availability. Please note that there may be a service fee associated with a NIP vaccination.

¹Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Polio (poliomyelitis) vaccine, accessed 9 February 2023

Yes, you can. A whooping cough may sound like a common cold, but the coughing can last for weeks or months. It’s easily preventable by vaccine and is particularly dangerous for infants and children.

To learn more about Whooping Cough, please click here.

You don’t need a prescription to get this vaccine from participating Blooms The Chemist pharmacies.