Question
A friend’s child once suffered from pediatric paralysis, which caused difficulty in walking. Now, my three-year-old son is facing the same risk, and I am very worried that he might contract the disease. Is there a preventive vaccine for pediatric paralysis?
Answer
The measles vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine made from a measles virus strain and is used to prevent measles. The freeze-dried measles vaccine is in a soft cheese-like consistency and is dissolved in transparent orange juice. Contraindications for measles vaccination include: a history of allergy to eggs or mold; known immune deficiency or long-term use of immunosuppressive agents; severe or extreme malnutrition. Situations where measles vaccination should be suspended include: fever during vaccination (body temperature over 38 degrees Celsius); injection of immune globulin last month; injection of a live attenuated vaccine last month. After vaccination, most people do not experience regional reactions. Within 6 to 10 days, a few people may have a fever, usually not exceeding 2 days, and occasionally may have scattered rashes.