Poliomyelitis may occur in children with HIV after poliomyelitis vaccination

People infected with HIV, particularly those with AIDS, should not be given live vaccines. However, eradication of poliomyelitis globallythe World Health Organisation's goalrequires the use of oral, live attenuated vaccine. Thus, complications after vaccination with live poliomyelitis vaccine might be expected to be more common in children infected with HIV, especially in countries where the prevalence of HIV infection is high. On p 841 Chitsike and van Furth document a case of paralytic poliomyelitis in Zimbabwe in a boy with HIV infection who had been vaccinated with oral poliomyelitis vaccine. Despite the risk of such complications, the authors recommend continuing with the vaccination programme as the benefits outweigh the risks.

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Relevant Article

Paralytic poliomyelitis associated with live oral poliomyelitis vaccine in child with HIV infection in Zimbabwe: case report

Inam Chitsike and Ralph van Furth
BMJ 1999 318: 841-843. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]