Vaccines by disease: Learning more about the polio vaccine (IPV)

Even though polio has been eliminated in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, it is still common in some parts of the world, e.g. Africa and India, and “imported” cases can occur in unvaccinated children and adults. Those who contract polio can become paralyzed or die from progressive muscle paralysis. Prevention is the key to not contracting polio, and the most effective preventive method is inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).

Who should be vaccinated for polio? Children need to receive four doses of the polio vaccine at the following ages: 2 months 4 months 6 to 18 months 4 to 6 years Most adults should not need the polio vaccine if they were immunized as children. However, three groups of adults are at higher risk to contract polio and should speak to their health care provider about IPV: People who travel to countries where polio has not been eradicated Laboratory workers who may handle the polio virus Health care workers who may treat patients with polio People who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B (components of the vaccine) should not receive a polio vaccine injection. Review the vaccination schedule for those who start late on a vaccine or are more than one month behind.

When did the vaccine for polio become available?
At one time, oral polio vaccine (OPV) was the recommended vaccine in the United States. It was predominantly used between 1963 until 1998. Beginning in 1979, it was discovered that OPV caused between six to eight cases of polio each year in children with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend the IPV for immunization against polio to decrease the already small risk associated with OPV immunization.

Before the creation of the polio vaccine, thousands of people were impacted by this disease. During the early 1950s, 20,000 people in the United States contracted polio every year. Polio infection has been eliminated from the United States as a result of widespread use of polio vaccine.

How does someone become infected with polio?
Polio is a virus that is spread by person-to-person contact via the stool of an infected person. For instance, it could be transmitted while changing diapers or eating unwashed food in a country where polio still occurs.

How effective is the polio vaccine?
With three doses of IPV, there is 99 percent protection from polio.

Are there any side effects of this vaccine?
There are no reports of any serious side effects from IPV, and the only reported mild side effect is injection-site soreness.

Can you get polio from the vaccine?
You cannot contract polio from IPV because the vaccine contains killed virus.

How do I learn more about this vaccine?
The best person to ask about this or any vaccine is your child’s pediatrician or your primary health care provider. Your provider can answer your questions and give you more information on the polio vaccine.

Immunization is the best thing you can do for your child and yourself to protect against polio.