St. Agnes Surgery

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  • Home
    • General Information
    • Meet the Team
    • Our Story
    • ______________________________
    • Accreditation
    • Child Safe Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Fees
    • Privacy Policy
    • New Patients and Workcover Patients
    • Acknowledgement of Country
  • News
    • Career Opportunities
    • Latest News
    • "Your Doctor"
    • Coronavirus
  • Services
    • Duty Doctor
    • GP Roster
    • General Practice
    • Ear Microsuction
    • Mental Health
    • Men's Health >
      • Prostate Health
    • Women's Health >
      • Breast Health
      • Menopause & HRT
      • Contraception - Implanted Contraception
      • Cervical Screening
      • Planning for Pregnancy
    • Preventative Care
    • Programs & Clinics >
      • Asthma Program
      • CardioVascular Program
      • "Closing The Gap"
      • Coordinated Veterans Care (CVC)
      • Diabetes Clinic
      • Duty Doctor
      • Iron Infusion
      • Immunisation
      • Molescan
      • Cervical Screening Clinic
      • Seniors Health Assess.
    • Repeat Script / Referral
    • Screening Tests
    • Seniors Health
    • Specialist Centre
    • Useful Links
  • FAQ Sheets
    • Advanced Directives
    • Asthma
    • Atrial Fibrillation
    • BP Vertigo
    • Bowel Cancer
    • Breast Cancer
    • CVD
    • Cholesterol
    • Chronic Heart Failure
    • Chronic Kidney Disease
    • COPD
    • Diabetes
    • Depression
    • Ecomony Class Syndrome
    • Gout
    • Haemochromatosis
    • IBS
    • Meningococcal
    • Osteoperosis
    • P. Rheumatica & T. Arteritis
    • Sleep Apnoea
    • Warfarin
    • Weight & Health
  • Vaccinations
    • Australian Immunisation Schedule
    • Chickenpox
    • Gardasil - HPV
    • Hepatitis A
    • Hepatitis B
    • Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
    • Hib
    • Influenza
    • Measles
    • MMR
    • Mumps
    • Meningococcal
    • Pneumococcal
    • Polio
    • Rotavirus
    • Rubella
    • Triple Antigen IPV
  • Contact
    • St. Agnes Surgery
    • Tea Tree Medical Centre
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Poliomyelitis (Infantile Paralysis)

Polio is an extremely contagious viral infection of the gut. Following infection some people will develop variable degrees of paralysis which may result in permanent disability or death.

Polio was very common in Australia until around 1960 when immunisation dramatically reduced its incidence – however it is still common in some countries.

Until recently vaccination was by live polio virus - this has now been replaced for childhood immunisation with the inactive IPV vaccine which is incorporated within the triple antigen vaccine and does not have the potential issues associated with the live virus - 
Triple Antigen IPV.
 
Previously, and for those not eligible for Triple Antigen IPV or IPV vaccine an oral polio vaccine is, or, was used.

The Vaccine:

 An inactive vaccine (IPV) which is incorporated within the triple antigen vaccine (Triple Antigen IPV) and does not have the potential issues associated with the live virus of the old oral drops vaccine mentioned above.

Please refer to the Triple Antigen IPV vaccination for further details.

Recommended for:

It is recommended that children are vaccinated via the Immunisation Schedule for Children

​
Now the IPV is given with the Triple Antigen IPV vaccination. Please refer to that vaccination for further details.

Adverse Reactions:

Reactions to the old vaccine OPV were more common being that it was a live vaccine.

Now the IPV is given with the Triple Antigen IPV vaccination. Please refer to that vaccination for further details.
OLD POLIO VACCINE 
Unlike most vaccines, oral polio vaccine (OPV) is a live vaccine. The usual course is given as 2 drops of OPV medicine at 2,4 and 6 months with a booster at 4 years.

Reactions to oral polio vaccine are uncommon, but precautions need to be taken because live virus is excreted in the child’s stool for approximately 6 weeks after each dose – an infection could be picked up by susceptible people from the faeces. Because the live vaccine virus is excreted in faeces for 6 weeks, carers should be very careful with hygiene, particularly when changing nappies - which should be safely disposed of.

Very rarely (there have been 2 cases in Australia in the past 13 years) the vaccine can cause a form of paralytic polio in the person receiving it – vaccine associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP).

The following people should not be vaccinated with oral polio vaccine (OPV)
  • Fever greater than 38.5 (delay immunisation)
  • Severe reaction to a previous dose of polio
  • Severe allergy to neomycin, polymyxin or streptomycin
  • In the presence of vomiting or diarrhoea (delay immunisation)
  • In individuals or where there are house-hold contacts : 
    • **taking high dose steroids or on immunosuppressive medication or whole body radiotherapy 
    • **With a malignancy of their immune system (lymphoma, leukaemia or Hodgkins Disease)  
    • **HIV infection 
    • **During pregnancy

An alternate to oral polio is available – a non live vaccine (IPV), given by injection and this IPV alternative can be used in the **above instances.
​
St. Agnes Surgery
1251 North East Road, Ridgehaven, SA  5097
P: 08 8264 3333   F: 08 8263 8590
E: mail@stagnessurgery.com.au
Tea Tree Medical Centre
975 North East Road, Modbury, SA  5092
P: 08 8264 4555   F: 08 8263 9062    
E: 
mail@stagnessurgery.com.au
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​This website contains medical information that is of a general nature only and is intended for education and information. It is not intended as personal advice.
Although every effort is made to keep this website up to date, information is subject to change and as such, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed at all times.  
The contents of this website are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without prior permission & acknowledgement of St Agnes Surgery.  © 2016 St. Agnes Surgery.
The Practice would like to acknowledge and thank Dr Milton Hart for the majority of the content and Katrina Nichols of Kauri Computing for publishing our website.