IPV stands for Inactivated Polio Vaccine. It is the only polio vaccine given in the United States since 2000. It is a safe and effective way to protect against polio, a serious disease that can cause paralysis. IPV contains a killed (inactivated) virus, so it can't cause polio. It is given as a series of shots.
IPV is often given in combination with other vaccines, such as the DTaP vaccine (which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). In the United States, children typically receive four doses of IPV:
- At 2 months of age
- At 4 months of age
- At 6 to 18 months of age
- At 4 to 6 years of age
IPV protects 99 – 100 percent of people who get all doses.
