Polio
Polio Vaccine for Travel
What is Polio?
Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious viral disease caused by the poliovirus. It primarily affects young children and can lead to paralysis or even death. The virus is transmitted through contaminated food, water, or direct contact with an infected person.
How to Prevent Polio?
Prevention of Polio includes practicing good hygiene, such as regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and immunization.
Is Polio Vaccine Necessary?
Polio vaccination has played a crucial role in the global effort to control and eradicate polio. The polio vaccine is highly effective in preventing polio infection and its associated complications. Routine polio vaccination is part of childhood immunization programs in many countries.
However, additional doses of the polio vaccine, particularly the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), may be recommended for individuals who are traveling to areas where polio is endemic or experiencing outbreaks. These recommendations can vary based on the destination, duration of travel, and the person’s vaccination history.
To find out if your destination(s) require the Polio vaccine, consult a Rockdoc Travel Medicine Professional here.
We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the provided information, however, it is not feasible for us to update daily. Please book a virtual consultation with one of our Travel Medicine Professionals for current, personalized advice and answers to any questions you may have.
Is Polio Serious Disease?
Symptoms of Polio
Majority of polio cases are asymptomatic or result in mild illness.
Non-paralytic polio:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Stiffness in the neck and back
- Muscle pain
- Discomfort
In rare cases, the virus can attack the nerves and cause muscle weakness or paralysis, typically in the legs.
Paralytic polio:
- Muscle weakness
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes
In most cases (around 90%), polio causes no symptoms at all (asymptomatic). However, in a small percentage of cases, the disease can cause severe complications. Paralysis can be partial or complete and may be accompanied by decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes.
Available travel vaccinations and medications
We offer the following travel vaccinations and medications:
- Tick-borne Encephalitis
What Our Customers Are Saying
Brought to you by a team of trusted healthcare professionals
We know how hard it can be for Canadians to get the healthcare they need, when they need it. That’s why Rockdoc is on a mission to help Canadians navigate healthcare. We have decades of experience providing emergent, urgent, and continuing healthcare services and solutions – meeting and exceeding the standard of care for our patients and our communities.
Dr. Sam Gutman
Dr. Shaan Pawa
Associate Medical Director
MD CCFP-EM CTH®
Kristyna Sorensen
Medical Operations Manager
RN, BSN
Contact Us
Do you have questions about Virtual Travel Clinic? Find answers to the most frequently asked questions here, or chat with one of our friendly Customer Success representatives.
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