Question
After the baby has finished taking three doses of pediatric polio sugar pills, the parent only learned that milk should not be fed half an hour before taking the sugar pills. When giving the first and second doses, the baby took the sugar pills 5-10 minutes after feeding. The parent inquires whether this will affect the efficacy of the sugar pills, whether they need to be retaken, and if retaking them will have any impact on the baby’s health.
Answer
Pediatric polio sugar pills are a live attenuated vaccine for poliomyelitis that stimulate antibody production to resist the poliomyelitis virus. However, the efficacy of the sugar pills is related to temperature, and they are most easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal mucosa at 20-22°C. The temperature of breast milk is 37°C, which may render the administered live vaccine ineffective. Additionally, sugar pills should not be taken within one hour before feeding because breast milk may contain antibodies that resist the virus, thereby rendering the sugar pills inactive and reducing their efficacy. Therefore, it is recommended to take the sugar pills at the correct time intervals to ensure their effectiveness. If the baby takes the sugar pills at incorrect intervals and the parent has concerns about their efficacy, they should consult a doctor about whether they need to be retaken. Retaking the sugar pills usually has little impact on the baby’s body, but it should be done according to the doctor’s professional advice.