Polio vaccine

Types of polio vaccines

There are two kinds of polio vaccine:

• Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which is the shot recommended in the United States today
• A live, oral polio vaccine (OPV), which is drops that are swallowed

Until recently OPV was recommended for most children in the United States. OPV helped us rid the country of polio, and it is still used in many parts of the world. Both vaccines give immunity to polio, but OPV is better at keeping the disease from spreading to other people. However, for a few people (about one in 2.4 million), OPV actually causes polio. Since the risk of getting polio in the United States is now extremely low, experts believe that using oral polio vaccine is no longer worth the slight risk, except in limited circumstances, which your doctor can describe. If you or your child will be getting OPV, ask for a copy of the OPV supplemental Vaccine Information Statement.

The polio shot (IPV) does not cause polio. The shot is given in the leg or arm, depending on age. Polio vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Children

Most people should get polio vaccine when they are children. Children get 4 doses of IPV, at these ages:

• A dose at 2 months
• A dose at 6-18 months
• A dose at 4 months
• A booster dose at 4-6 years

Adults

Most adults do not need polio vaccine because they were already vaccinated as children. But three groups of adults are at higher risk and should consider polio vaccination:

• People traveling to areas of the world where polio is common
• Laboratory workers who might handle polio virus
• Health care workers treating patients who could have polio

Adults in these three groups who have never been vaccinated against polio should get 3 doses of IPV:

The first dose at any time

The second dose 1 to 2 months later

The third dose 6 to 12 months after the second

Who should not get IPV

These people should not get IPV:

• Any person who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B
• Any person who has a severe allergic reaction to a polio shot

Who should wait

Any person who is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting polio vaccine. People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Ask your health care provider for more information.

After getting vaccinated

Some people who get IPV get a sore spot where the shot was given. The vaccine used today has never been known to cause any serious problems, and most people don’t have any problems at all with it. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, could cause serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction. The risk of a polio shot causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Unusual reactions

After a vaccination, beware of any unusual condition, such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever, or unusual behavior. If a serious allergic reaction occurred, it would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, weakness, hoarseness or wheezing, a fast heartbeat, hives, dizziness, paleness, or swelling of the throat. Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away. Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given. Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VAERS at 1-800-822-7967.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

In the rare event that you or your child has a serious reaction to a vaccine, a federal program has been created to help you pay for the care of those who have been harmed. For details about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, call 1-800-338-2382.