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General information - polio
Questions and answers regarding use of combination vaccines
containing IPV may be found
here. |
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| What is the routine schedule for giving IPV to children? |
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| Four doses of polio vaccine (IPV) are routinely recommended for U.S. children at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years. The first dose may be given as early as age 6 weeks. |
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| What is the schedule for older children who have not completed their IPV series? |
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| The schedule for polio vaccination for unvaccinated or under-vaccinated older children through age 17 years is 2 doses of IPV separated by 4–8 weeks, and a third dose 6–12 months after the second dose. If an accelerated schedule is needed, the child should receive two doses separated by at least 4 weeks and a third (final) dose given at least 6 months after the second dose. Polio vaccine is not routinely administered to persons 18 years of age and older. |
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| Should adults get vaccinated against
polio? |
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| Routine vaccination of persons 18 years of age and older against polio is not necessary because most adults are already immune and also have little risk of being exposed to wild polio virus.
Certain adults are at increased risk of infection, including travelers to areas were polio is common, laboratory workers who handle specimens that might contain polioviruses, and healthcare workers in close contact with patients who might be excreting wild polioviruses in their stool (such as those caring for recent immigrants from central Africa or parts of Asia).
If an adult is at increased risk of exposure and has never been vaccinated against polio, he or she should receive three doses of IPV, the first two doses given 1-2 months apart, and the third 6-12 months after the second.
If an adult at risk previously received only one or two doses of polio vaccine (either OPV or IPV), he or she should receive the remaining dose(s) of IPV, regardless of the interval since the last dose.
If an adult at increased risk previously completed a primary course of polio vaccine (three or more doses of either OPV or IPV), he or she may be given another dose of IPV to ensure protection. Only one "booster" dose of polio vaccine in a person's lifetime is recommended. It is not necessary to receive a booster dose each time a person travels to an area where polio may still occur. |
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| A 4-year-old's vaccine records show that she had 4 IPVs, given at 2m, 4m, 6m, and age 2. Should she have a booster dose? |
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| Yes. In June, 2009, ACIP updated its recommendations to clarify that an additional dose must be given at age 4-6 years, even if the child previously received 4 doses (either as IPV or as part of a combination vaccine containing IPV). |
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| Is it true that IPV can be given either
SC or
IM? |
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| Yes. |
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| What is the risk of serious reactions
following IPV? |
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| There are no severe reactions known to
occur following IPV. |
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| Reviewed on 10/09 |
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