Polio

Abstract

All infants without contraindications should receive 3 doses of inactivated polio vaccine (abbreviation: IPV; trade name: Ipol®), given at least 4 weeks apart, with the first dose administered at a minimum of 6 weeks of age, routinely at 2, 4, and 6-18 months of age. A fourth dose is recommended at 4-6 years of age, though this dose is not needed if the third dose was received after 4 years of age and at least 6 months after the second dose. A full primary vaccination series with IPV is also recommended for adults at increased risk of infection (such as international travelers to epidemic or endemic countries, members of communities or groups with disease caused by wild polioviruses, laboratory workers who handle specimens that may contain polioviruses, health care workers who have close contact with patients who may be excreting wild polioviruses, and unvaccinated adults whose children will be receiving oral poliovirus vaccine, although there is no oral poliovirus available in the United States at this time). For adults at high risk of exposure, who have previously been fully vaccinated as children, a one-time additional dose of IPV is recommended.