Imovax (Polio 1,2,3)

1. Polio Vaccine:
- The polio vaccine can prevent polio (or poliomyelitis), a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus.
- Most people infected with poliovirus have no symptoms, but some may experience paralysis.
- The vaccine is given multiple times and provides long-lasting protection.

2. Historical Context:
- Before the polio vaccine, the disease caused significant disability in children.
- In the 20th century, about 16,000 cases of paralytic polio occurred annually in the U.S.
- Thanks to vaccination efforts, there were no reported cases of polio in the U.S. in 2020.

3. Vaccine Types:
- Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): Protects against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3.
- Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2): Used to control type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks.

Remember that most of the U.S. population already has protection due to childhood vaccination. If you haven't completed your polio vaccination series, consider getting vaccinated to prevent paralysis caused by poliovirus.