The polio vaccine primarily used in the United States since 2000 is called the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).
Understanding the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)
The IPV is administered via injection, either in the arm or leg depending on the recipient's age. It contains a killed (inactivated) poliovirus, meaning it cannot cause polio. This is a key difference from the oral polio vaccine (OPV), which uses a weakened, live virus. The IPV is given as a series of shots, ensuring effective protection.
- Safety: Because it uses an inactivated virus, IPV poses no risk of causing polio.
- Administration: It's given as a shot, making administration straightforward.
- Combination Vaccines: IPV may sometimes be combined with other vaccines, such as the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) vaccine, simplifying the vaccination schedule. You can discuss combination vaccines with your child's doctor.
- Schedule: The complete vaccination schedule will be recommended by healthcare professionals based on age and health history.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/polio/vaccines/index.html and other health organizations provide comprehensive information on the IPV and its administration. They recommend completing the polio vaccination series for both children and adults who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. The World Health Organization (WHO) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis also notes that there are two types of polio vaccines: oral and inactivated.
While an oral polio vaccine (OPV) exists, the IPV is the preferred and currently used method in the United States. Both vaccines aim to provide lifelong protection against polio.
