What should you know about pulse polio vaccination?

Polio can spread between people, including when an infected person has few or no symptoms. Campaign teams offer oral vaccine doses to children who meet the local eligibility rules, helping close gaps that routine visits may miss. An extra campaign dose does not automatically replace scheduled immunisations. Keep the child’s vaccination record so a healthcare worker can check which routine doses are due.

Bring eligible children to the authorised campaign site or follow the instructions from local health services. Share the child’s age, medical history, previous vaccine record, and any known allergy with the vaccinator. Encourage fluids and observe the child after vaccination. If a child is acutely unwell, ask the vaccinator whether to proceed; do not quietly skip a routine appointment without arranging catch-up advice. Childhood immunisation planning can clarify the wider schedule.

Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, collapse, or a child who becomes unusually difficult to wake after any vaccine. Contact a clinician for persistent vomiting, marked weakness, or another symptom that concerns you. A mild short-lived reaction can occur, but the vaccination team should explain what to watch for.

Ask whether your child is eligible, which routine doses are recorded, whether an extra dose is advised, and how to arrange catch-up vaccination if a visit was missed.