Poliomyelitis Vaccine

Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (poliovirus vaccine, inactivated, IPV) contains a mixture of formalin-inactivated poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3. IPV may contain trace amounts of streptomycin, neomycin, and polymyxin B.

The live-attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine is no longer available in the United States because it can mutate to a strain that causes polio in about 1 of every 2.4 million people who are given the vaccine.

Inactivated polio vaccine is the only polio vaccine that has been given in the United States since 2000. The following combination vaccines are also available:

IPV is a routine childhood vaccine (see CDC: Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age).

Routine primary poliovirus vaccination of adults living in the United States is not recommended (see CDC: Adult Immunization Schedule by Age). Unimmunized or incompletely immunized adults who may be exposed to wild poliovirus (eg, travelers to endemic areas, laboratory workers who handle specimens that may contain poliovirus) should be vaccinated with IPV. Completely vaccinated adults who are at an increased risk of exposure to poliovirus can be given a booster dose of IPV. For current information about which countries are considered at high risk of polio, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Travelers' Health: Destinations and Travelers Health: Polio.

In the United States, a case of vaccine-derived polio was identified in an unvaccinated person who acquired it in New York State in July 2022 (see also New York State Department of Health: Wastewater Surveillance). New York residents in areas with repeated poliovirus detection may be at higher risk of infection and should follow updated vaccination recommendations from the New York State Department of Health (see New York State Department of Health: Polio Vaccine).

The main contraindication for IPV is

The main precautions with IPV are

The IPV dose is 0.5 mL IM or subcutaneous.

A 4-dose IM series is given at age 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years. Typically, a combination vaccine is used for the first 3 vaccinations and a single-antigen vaccine for the last dose. If children miss an IPV dose at age 4 to 6 years, they should be given a booster dose as soon as possible.

When DTaP-IPV/Hib is used for the 4-dose schedule (at ages 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 18 months), an additional booster dose of IPV-containing vaccine (IPV or DTaP-IPV) should be given at age 4 to 6 years, resulting in a 5-dose schedule; however, DTaP-IPV/Hib should not be used for the booster dose at age 4 to 6 years. The minimum interval between doses 4 and 5 should be ≥ 6 months to optimize the booster response.

A primary series of IPV is recommended for unvaccinated adults at increased risk of exposure to poliovirus. The recommended interval between doses 1 and 2 is 1 to 2 months; the third dose is given 6 to 12 months later. If protection is needed in 2 to 3 months, 3 doses are given ≥ 1 month apart. If it is needed in 1 to 2 months, 2 doses are given ≥ 1 month apart. If it is needed in < 1 month, 1 dose is given. In all cases, the remaining doses of vaccine should be given later, at the recommended intervals, if the person remains at increased risk.

No adverse effects have been associated with IPV. Because it may contain trace amounts of neomycin, streptomycin, and polymyxin B, people who are sensitive to any of these drugs may have an allergic reaction to the vaccine.

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