Polio vaccine what type of immunity

Children in the United States should get inactivated polio vaccine IPV to protect against polio, or poliomyelitis. They should get four doses total, with one dose at each of the following ages:. Children who will be traveling to a country where the risk of getting polio is greater external icon should complete the series before leaving for their trip.

If a child cannot complete the routine series before leaving, an accelerated schedule is recommended as follows:. If the accelerated schedule cannot be completed before leaving, the remaining doses should be given in the affected country, or upon returning home, at the intervals recommended in the accelerated schedule.

In addition, children completing the accelerated schedule should still receive a dose of IPV at 4 years old or older, as long as it has been at least 6 months after the last dose. 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 in the following situations:.

Adults in these three groups who have never been vaccinated against polio should get 3 doses of IPV:. Adults in these three groups who have had 1 or 2 doses of polio vaccine in the past should get the remaining 1 or 2 doses. Adults who are at increased risk of exposure to poliovirus and who have previously completed a routine series of polio vaccine IPV or OPV can receive one lifetime booster dose of IPV.

Top of Page. The predominant mode of transmission in the developing world is thought to be fecal-oral. Virus is shed in the feces and, in poor sanitary conditions and with suboptimal hygiene measures, can infect other persons if transmitted by dirty hands or contaminated food and water. Therefore, strong intestinal immunity prevents transmission. Studies indicate that they have then shed polio in their stool for up to several years All Rights Reserved. Date last modified: December 12, Created with SoftChalk mobile page SoftChalk 8.

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