Why was the U.S. polio immunization recommendation changed from OPV to IPV?
The change to an all-IPV schedule in the United States occurred because the few cases of polio that were occurring (8-10 per year) were caused by the OPV vaccine itself and not the wild virus. The change to IPV protects individuals against paralytic polio, while eliminating the small chance (about once in every 2.4 million doses) of actually contracting polio from the live oral vaccine. OPV is better at stopping the spread of the virus to others, but now that wild (natural) polio has been eliminated from the Western Hemisphere, this advantage is no longer a consideration in the United States. IPV has been used exclusively in the United States since 2000. However, in other countries where wild polio is still a threat, OPV is still used. Who should get this vaccine? All infants should get this vaccine unless they have a medical reason not to. A primary series of IPV consists of three properly spaced doses, usually given at two months, four months, and 6-18 months. A booster dose is given
