Poliomyelitis Prevention

Prevention

Two types of vaccines are available to prevent polio:

• Oral polio vaccine is given by mouth and uses weakened live viruses
• Injected vaccine is in shot form and uses killed viruses

There is a tiny chance of actually acquiring polio due to exposure to the live viruses in the oral polio vaccine. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend that only injected vaccine be used.

Current immunization recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include:

• Children should receive a series of four immunization injections, at
  • Two months
  • Four months
  • 6 to 18 months
  • 4 to 6 years
• Adults who have never been immunized should receive a series if they are at high risk of contracting polio. Risk is increased in adults who:
  • Travel to areas where poliovirus is still common
  • Care for individuals with polio
  • Work in labs where poliovirus is handled