25 October 2026 | Santosh Hospitals

Few parents today have seen a child with polio, and that is the result of decades of immunisation. India has recorded no wild poliovirus cases for years, but the virus has not left the world. Wherever vaccination slips, children become vulnerable again. That is why polio vaccination still matters: a small group of unprotected children is enough for the disease to return. Understanding how the infection spreads and how each vaccine works explains why every dose counts.

What Is Polio and How Is It Prevented?

Polio is a viral infection that spreads through contaminated water, food and unwashed hands. The virus multiplies in the gut, and symptoms usually begin within days to a couple of weeks of exposure. In a small share of infected children it invades the nerves and causes sudden, permanent paralysis, sometimes of the breathing muscles. No treatment cures it, so prevention is the whole defence.

The polio vaccine for children comes in two forms:

• Oral drops, which build gut immunity and help stop the virus spreading
• An injectable vaccine, which gives strong protection in the blood

Both are part of the national immunisation schedule, with several doses in early childhood and boosters afterwards. Pulse polio campaigns add extra drops for every young child, whatever doses came before.

Why Is Polio Vaccination Important for Children?

Removing polio from one country is not the same as wiping it out worldwide. Travel and migration can carry the virus to areas where coverage has dropped, and a single unvaccinated child can start a new chain of spread. High coverage also shields babies too young to finish the schedule. These vaccines have decades of use behind them. Mild reactions, such as a low fever or a fussy day, can occur and pass within a day or two.

Symptoms That Need Medical Attention

Most infections cause nothing noticeable, or a mild illness with fever, headache, vomiting, sore throat or stiff limbs, much like other childhood infections. That is why vaccination is a better safeguard than watching for symptoms. Urgent care is needed when a child suddenly develops:

• Weakness or floppiness in an arm or leg
• Difficulty swallowing
• Trouble breathing

Where to Get Polio Vaccination in Ghaziabad

The Department of Paediatrics at Santosh Hospitals cares for newborns, infants and children, and the team can check a child's immunisation record and advise on due or missed doses. Parents looking for polio vaccination in Ghaziabad, or comparing a vaccination centre in Ghaziabad, can ask three things. Is the record reviewed at every visit? Are the doses explained? Is there guidance on what to expect afterwards? A missed dose does not mean starting over, since catch-up vaccination is routine.

Practical Tips for Parents

• Keeping the vaccination card safe and bringing it to every visit
• Giving pulse polio drops in every campaign, even when routine doses are complete
• Handwashing before meals and after toilet use
• Safe drinking water
• Hygienic disposal of children's waste, particularly in crowded settings
• Telling the doctor if the child is unwell on vaccination day

Conclusion

Polio can be prevented but never cured, so every child needs protection. When doubts exist about a child's doses, the record can be reviewed. The Paediatrics team at Santosh Hospitals guides polio vaccination in Ghaziabad according to the national schedule.

FAQs

1. Can a child with a mild cold be vaccinated?

Usually yes. A runny nose, mild cough or slight temperature is not a reason to delay the dose. A doctor may postpone vaccination when the child has a high fever or a more significant illness, and the dose is then given once the child recovers.

2. Do adults need polio vaccination?

Most adults who were vaccinated in childhood do not need another dose. A booster may be advised for travellers to regions where polio still circulates, for healthcare workers who may be exposed and for adults who never completed the childhood schedule. A doctor can decide based on the individual's history.

3. Can the polio vaccine be given with other vaccines?

Yes. It is routinely given on the same day as other childhood vaccines, such as those for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Giving them together reduces the number of clinic visits and does not lower the protection from any of them.

4. Should premature babies be vaccinated on time?

Generally yes. Premature babies follow the schedule according to their actual age, not their corrected age, because they are just as exposed to infection. A doctor may adjust the plan only when a specific medical reason exists, such as a serious illness at the time of the visit.

5. What is vaccine-derived polio?

In rare cases, the weakened virus in oral vaccine can spread among people for a long time in communities with low immunity. It may then change into a form that can cause paralysis. This is why high vaccination coverage matters, and why the injectable vaccine is used alongside oral drops.

6. Is the polio vaccine safe for children?

Yes. Both vaccines have been used for decades in many countries. Mild reactions such as low fever, irritability or soreness at the injection site are common and settle within a day or two. Serious reactions are very rare, and the risk from polio itself is far greater.

7. Can a missed polio dose be given later?

Yes. A late dose still works, and the schedule does not need to restart from the beginning. A doctor reviews the vaccination card, then plans the remaining doses so the child reaches full protection as soon as possible.