The incident took place on Sunday in a primary health center in Yavatmal during the National Pulse Polio Vaccination, said Shrikrishna Panchal, a senior official of the Yavatmal District Council.
The incident came to light after one of the children complained of discomfort and vomiting, Panchal told CNN.
All the children have been admitted to the district’s Medical College and are in a stable condition, the official said.
An investigation was ordered against the three health workers, including a doctor who was present during the incident.
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a three-day polio vaccination campaign on Sunday.
Polio was once a common virus. In some young children, it can affect the nerves and cause muscle weakness or paralysis. There is no treatment and no cure, but getting vaccinated can prevent infection.
In 2014, the World Health Organization confirmed that India was polio-free after three years without an endemic case.
Five years ago, India was home to almost half of the global polio cases and is considered one of the technically most difficult places to eradicate the disease due to sanitation challenges and a high density population.
The eradication of polio in India has been announced as one of the greatest achievements in global health efforts, but vaccination programs and surveillance must continue to prevent outbreaks.
Polio has been eradicated in Southeast Asia, the Americas, Europe, most of Australasia and Africa. Wild strains of polio are only now circulating in two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.