How do polio vaccines work

Poliomyelitis is a viral disease. There are three types of poliovirus and many strains of each type. The virus enters through the mouth and multiplies in the throat and gastrointestinal tract, then moves into the bloodstream and is carried to the central nervous system where it replicates and destroys the motor neuron cells. Motor neurons control the muscles for swallowing, circulation, respiration, and the trunk, arms, and legs.

Human nerve cells have a protruding protein structure on their surface whose precise function is unknown. When poliovirus encounters the nerve cells, the protruding receptors attach to the virus particle, and infection begins.

No serious systemic adverse reactions have been shown to follow vaccination. An increasing number of industrialized, polio-free countries are using IPV as the vaccine of choice. This is because the risk of paralytic polio associated with continued routine use of OPV is deemed greater than the risk of imported wild virus. However, as IPV does not stop transmission of the virus, OPV is used wherever a polio outbreak needs to be contained, even in countries which rely exclusively on IPV for their routine immunization programme.

Who we are Our Mission. History of Polio. Endemic Countries Afghanistan Pakistan. 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. This decision was also based on the decreased risk of wild poliovirus being brought into the country and because the U.

Inactivated poliovirus vaccine IPV , which is the only polio vaccine that has been given in the United States since , protects almost all children 99 out of who get all the recommended doses. For best protection, children should get four doses of polio vaccine. With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of side effects.

These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible. Some people who get IPV get a sore spot where the shot was given. IPV has not been known to cause serious problems, and most people do not have any problems with it.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death. A polio infection may leave a person unable to breathe without the help of an iron lung, unable to walk without leg braces, or confined to a wheelchair. There is no cure for polio. Immunization against polio is recommended for all infants from 6 to 12 weeks of age, all children, all adolescents up to 18 years of age, and certain adults who are at greater risk for exposure to polioviruses than the general population, including:.

Immunization against polio is not recommended for infants younger than 6 weeks of age, because antibodies they received from their mothers before birth may interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine. Infants who were immunized against polio before 6 weeks of age should receive the complete polio immunization series.

This vaccine is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor or other health care professional. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.