The Polio Vaccine

The polio vaccine is a shot that helps protect people from poliovirus, which can cause paralysis or death. It works by introducing a harmless piece of the virus or a weakened version, training the immune system to recognize and fight the real virus if encountered. There are two main types: inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Vaccination has drastically reduced polio worldwide, making the disease very rare today. Receiving the vaccine is crucial for individual protection and helps stop the spread of the virus in communities.