2017-02-23 Thu

We all have taken Polio Vaccine till the age of five and above…But do you know who invented the Polio vaccination? What exactly is the Polio virus? Why do we need to get polio vaccine?

Do not worry we are here to help you and give you enough knowledge about it.

Polio (also known as poliomyelitis) is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Children younger than 5 years old are more likely to contract the virus than any other group.

There are two types of Polio- Paralytic and Non Paralytic. As their names are suggestive enough we won’t describe them in detail. And the common symptoms are fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, fatigue, meningitis, loss of reflexes, sudden paralysis: temporary or permanent, deformed limbs, especially the hips, ankles, and feet, etc.

Polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). There are two types: one that uses inactivated poliovirus and is given by injection (IPV), and one that uses weakened poliovirus and is given by mouth (OPV).

In 1910 the polio epidemics broke among masses in the developed cities. And this took the attention of many people and gave a thought to develop some vaccination that can fight against it.

While there was no actual cure for Polio, Dr. Jonas Salk was the one who discovered the Polio Vaccine and since then it’s been a boon in medical science! On 23rd February 1954, a group of children from Arsenal Elementary School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, receive the first injections of the new polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk.

Many countries have issued stamps on Polio. India Post issued a stamp of 6 Rupee 50 Paisa for Polio Immunization Programme. It depicts a nurse giving a polio drop to a baby.

We would like to tell you one interesting fact, the earliest traces of Polio is seen in the Pre Historic period. Ancient Egyptian paintings and carvings depict healthy people with withered limbs, and children walking with canes at a young age.

Hope you are aware of it that India finally is Polio Free! No new traces of Polios now…