For a long time, there was hardly any fear of polio. As reported, viruses have now been detected again in the USA and Great Britain.
Experts cite low vaccination rates as the reason for this. It is assumed that around 70,000 children and young people in Austria are completely unvaccinated and many more do not have complete basic immunization. According to the “Brief Report on Polio” by the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, almost nine percent fewer children were vaccinated in 2021.
The biggest gaps are in the very small ones. According to the ministry, only 36 percent of those under one year olds received the second partial vaccination. However, only the third partial vaccination offers full vaccination protection.
There are three main forms of poliovirus: types 1, 2, and 3. Poliomyelitis most commonly affects children under the age of five and can cause paralysis, some of which are permanent. In severe cases, respiratory paralysis and death can occur. To date, there are no effective drugs against this disease. “Many poliovirus infections are asymptomatic or cause only flu-like symptoms.
Only about one in 200 infected people becomes paralyzed, so a single polio patient already indicates widespread spread of the virus in the community,” says Hans Jürgen Dornbusch, head of the Vaccination Committee department of the Austrian Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Polioviruses are pathogens that can be easily imported by travelers. These viruses are very resilient and resistant to chemical agents. They can survive in the environment for long periods of time. They are initially transmitted by droplet infection from the upper respiratory tract, then by smear infection through microscopically small stool residue – especially in the case of poor hygiene.
Vaccination and Refresher
Children need three vaccinations for full protection. Like the first booster vaccination, these are free of charge in Austria.
The vaccinations are in the 3rd, 5th and 11th-12th Month of life recommended as part of the six-fold vaccination. Children should then be given a booster vaccination as a 4-fold vaccination (polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough) when they are 7 to 9 years old (ideally before they start school) and then every ten years. (bar)
Source: Nachrichten
