LAGOS – A medical researcher, Dr Bamidele Iwalokun, on Wednesday said that giving analgesics to children before polio immunisation could reduce the efficacy of the vaccine.
Iwalokun, a molecular biologist at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said: “Many mothers give analgesics to their children before they receive polio vaccine to reduce side effects, such as mild fever, associated with the vaccine.
“However, research done in other countries has proven that administering an analgesic before giving the vaccine could reduce the efficacy of the vaccine.”
According to him, a child who receives an analgesic before vaccination may be unable to raise enough immunity to prevent future exposure to the virus that causes polio. [eap_ad_2] He urged health workers to advise mothers to give analgesics after children had received the vaccine.
The molecular biologist said that appropriate administration was essential to optimal safety and efficacy of vaccines.
He called on stakeholders to implement programmes to monitor quality immunisation services.
“Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease. It has no cure but it is preventable through immunisation.
“All vaccine providers should receive training on vaccine administration to children,” he said.
Iwalokun identified some initial symptoms of polio as fever, vomiting, stiffness on the neck and pain in the limbs.
NAN reports that the World Health Organisation said in its 2014 report that polio vaccine, given multiple times, could protect a child against polio for life.(NAN) [eap_ad_3]