International Adoption & Vaccines

[fighterflyy]

I have a question in regards to international adoption and vaccines. We are in the process of adopting an infant from Ethiopia. The child will receive many vaccines before we bring him/her home, however we will likely not continue them after the adoption is complete. We have 2 biological children already who are completely vaccine-free.

I have a concern that bringing a child in from a third-world situation may also bring with it these diseases that my children are not vaccinated for. We were willing to take that risk here in the USA but traveling to or bringing in someone from a questionable country is just upping that risk.

The child will be in the care of our adoption agency in Ethiopia for at least 5 months before we can bring him/her home. Is that enough time to be pretty sure it is not a carrier of, say, polio?

Also, my husband and I are mostly vaccinated, however, could we bring a disease home with us without catching it ourselves but passing it onto our unvaccinated kids?

Any info would be great. What would YOU do?

[Marnica]

you said

The child will receive many vaccines before we bring him/her home,

If this is the case and you believe that certain vaccines are effective than I would think there would be no reason to worry. As for Polio will the baby get the IPV or the OPV?? OPV is still used in many countried in the world, especially thrid world conntries. If it is the IPV this does not prevent transmission of wild polio From The CDC:

Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) needs to be injected and works by producing protective antibodies in the blood (serum immunity) - thus preventing the spread of poliovirus to the central nervous system. However, it induces only very low levels of immunity to polivirus locally, inside the gut. As a result, it provides individual protection against polio paralysis but, unlike OPV, cannot prevent the spread of wild polio virus.

Of polio in general also from the CDC:

Approximately 90% to 95% of poliovirus infections are asymptomatic. Nonspecific illness with low-grade fever and sore throat (minor illness) occurs in 4% to 8% of infections.

The OPV which is likely what this baby will get is very effective at preventing transmission, but can actaully cause polio in the vaccinated person and those in close contact

the live attenuated vaccine virus in OPV can cause paralysis - either in the vaccinated child, or in a close contact.

I would find out more about the diseases you are concerned about specifically and whether they are currently endemic in the area of Ethiopia that you will be going to.
I do understand your concerns and quite frankly without learning a whole lot more specifics, iIdon't know what I would do!!!