-----Original Message----- From: Andrew M. Eisen, MD <> >I will once again debate this stance that the "extra shot" is so bad. Although >OPV is highly protective, there is still the risk (albeit low) of >vaccine-associated paralytic polio. eIPV is as protective against wild polio, >there is no risk of polio in immune compromised contacts, and there is no VAPP. >I don't hear anyone arguing that the protection against Haemophilus influenza >type B disease isn't worth the pain, etc. of the HiB shots. > >I repeat, shots may be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but POLIO SUCKS! > The Hib doesn't have an oral alternative so the analogy doesn't seem relevant. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe since the eIPV is relatively new, the long-term protection (i.e. greater than ten or twenty years) hasn't been demonstrated yet. I know of a pediatrician who was sued due to a vaccine induced nerve injury, so putting four needles into small infants' thighs doesn't seem to be without risk either. We generally explain the risks to the parents and give them the choice. Kevin Kramer, MD, FAAP