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Ask the AIPO Experts
Clinical answers to vaccine questions
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Polio Vaccines: Lessons not forgotten
The question often asked: Is the polio vaccine still needed? The answer is YES. Our current generation has never seen a paralyzed child lying in an iron lung after being infected with polio. Let’s hope we never have to again.
The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) used in the United States has been effective in preventing polio virus outbreaks in our country. However, there are current large outbreaks of circulating vaccine derived polio virus (VDPV) in many countries, especially in Africa. A new case of wild polio type 1 just identified in Malawi has genetic linkage back to Pakistan. This is the first wild polio virus (WPV) detected in Africa since Africa was declared WPV-free in 2015. At the end of 2021 there was a new VDPV outbreak detected in Ukraine. The recent war has suspended a massive polio immunization effort for the children in Ukraine. Recently reported was a VDPV type 3 paralytic case in Israel in an unimmunized child. Diseases are only an airplane ride away.
Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV):
4 dose series at 2, 4, 6-18 months and 4-6 years of age.
The final dose must be after 4 years of age and at least 6 months after the previous dose.
IPV is usually not recommended for persons ≥ 18 year of age unless international travel is planned or they have another risk factor.
Only trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) counts toward the U.S. vaccination requirements.
- Doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) administered before April 1, 2016, can be counted if they specifically say trivalent OPV (tOPV).
- Doses of OPV administered on or after April 1, 2016, should not be counted since they are either bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) or monovalent oral polio vaccine (mOPV).
Resources:
Resource:
CDC Polio vaccine recommendations
Map of current polio outbreaks
The Arizona Immunization Program Office (AIPO) has clinical staff available to assist with your immunization questions (or contact your local county health department).
Michelina Stazzone, DNP, RN, CPNP Michelina.stazzone@azdhs.gov, 480-259-5342
Sharon Sweeney, MPH, BSN Sharon.Sweeney@azdhs.gov, 480-261-5557
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