Child develops oral ulcers after receiving polio vaccine
Disease description:
My son was told at kindergarten that he needs to get the polio vaccine. Recently, my child has had some mouth ulcers. I'm not sure if he can receive the vaccine. May I ask whether it's okay for a child with oral ulcers to get the polio vaccine?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lei
Infants and young children with oral ulcers should not receive the polio vaccine. When oral ulcers are present, white or creamy-white, cheese-like substances adhere to the oral mucosa. Vaccination of any kind should be postponed during an active outbreak, and proper treatment for the oral ulcer should be administered promptly. The oral polio vaccine (OPV), commonly known as the "polio sugar cube," is a live attenuated vaccine. It is administered orally to healthy infants aged two months and older. Most children experience no side effects after vaccination, although a small number may develop mild symptoms such as rash or diarrhea, which require no specific treatment and typically resolve within one to two days.
