Vaccine Safety
Safe vaccines. Stronger protection. Every child, every time.
Why Vaccine Safety Matters
Polio can cause lifelong paralysis, and there is no cure. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect children. Parents and caregivers should make sure children receive the polio vaccine whenever it is offered and complete their routine immunizations on time.
What Parents & Caregivers Should Know
The oral polio vaccine (OPV) used in vaccination programmes is quality-assured and is used to protect children against polio. Vaccine safety and quality are maintained through established vaccine-management and cold-chain procedures.
Children need repeated doses of oral polio vaccine to strengthen their protection. Receiving polio drops during repeated vaccination rounds is safe and helps build the immunity children need against the virus.
Minor illness is generally not a reason to miss polio vaccination. Parents and caregivers should tell the vaccinator if they have concerns about their child's health and follow the programme's approved guidance.
Polio protection should begin early in life. Parents and caregivers should follow the national immunization schedule and ensure their child receives all recommended vaccines.
Vaccines are kept at the required temperature through the cold-chain system. Vaccine teams also use approved checks, including expiry information and the Vaccine Vial Monitor (VVM), to help confirm that vaccine has been stored appropriately before use.
OPV is the oral polio vaccine given as drops. IPV is the inactivated polio vaccine given by injection. Both are used as part of polio protection, according to the national immunization programme and recommended schedule.