Madison Clarke
If you grew up in the US in the 1970s or later, you likely received the polio vaccine as a child. Polio vaccines have been part of routine childhood immunizations in the US since the mid-1950s. If you grew up elsewhere and emigrated to the US, you would have needed to get a polio vaccine to enter the country. If you're unsure whether you received the polio vaccine as a child, there are several ways to find out.
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What You'll Learn
How to find out if you had the polio vaccine as a child
If you grew up in the US in the 1970s or later, there is a good chance that you received the polio vaccine as part of your routine childhood immunizations. If you grew up elsewhere and emigrated to the US, you would have needed to get a polio vaccine before entering the country.
If you are unsure whether you were vaccinated for polio as a child, there are several ways to find out. Firstly, you could ask your parents or caregivers whether you received routine vaccinations as a child. Secondly, you could try to locate old documents from your childhood, such as a baby book or other mementos from your early childhood. Thirdly, you could contact your former schools, doctors, or employers, as they may have kept a record of your proof of immunization. Your preschool or elementary school may have records of their vaccination requirements, and your high school or college may have required a record of your childhood vaccinations. If you can confirm that your school required the polio vaccine, it is likely that you were vaccinated.
If you are still unable to determine whether you were vaccinated for polio as a child, you can contact your state's health department to see if they can help locate your immunization history. Some states have electronic Immunization Information Systems (IIS) that maintain vaccine records, although they may not always include adult vaccinations. Some workplaces, particularly those in healthcare, the military, or other professions requiring immunizations, may also keep records of vaccinations.
If you are unable to locate your records, the CDC reassures that repeating vaccinations is safe, even if you have already had a dose or the complete series. You can also undergo blood testing, also known as serologic testing, to check for antibodies in your blood and determine whether you are already immune to polio.
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What to do if you didn't have the polio vaccine as a child
If you did not receive the polio vaccine as a child, there are several steps you can take to address this. Firstly, it is important to confirm your vaccination status. Check your medical records, including childhood mementos, baby books, and vaccination cards. If you cannot locate these records, contact your childhood doctor's office, school, or past employers, as they may have vaccination requirements and records. Some states also maintain electronic Immunization Information Systems (IIS) that can help locate vaccine records.
If you are still unsure after these steps, consider getting a blood test, also known as serologic testing, to check for antibodies and determine your immunity status. Repeating vaccinations is generally considered safe, so if you are uncertain, it is better to ensure protection by getting the vaccine.
If you did not receive the polio vaccine as a child, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated now, especially if you are at high risk of exposure due to your job or travel plans. Polio is a serious disease that can cause lifelong paralysis, and the best way to protect against it is through vaccination. The CDC recommends that unvaccinated adults receive three doses of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which is the only polio vaccine given in the United States since 2000. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) is used in other countries.
If you are unsure whether to get vaccinated or have concerns, consult your healthcare provider. They can advise you based on your individual circumstances, including your risk factors and medical history. It is important to stay informed and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others from vaccine-preventable diseases like polio.
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The history of the polio vaccine
The first successful demonstration of a polio vaccine was by Hilary Koprowski in 1950, using a live attenuated virus that people drank. However, this vaccine was not approved for use in the United States. In 1952, Jonas Salk and a team at the University of Pittsburgh developed the first effective polio vaccine, which was licensed in the US in 1955. This vaccine required years of subsequent testing, and its mass production was made possible by a key laboratory technique invented by Leone N. Farrell in Toronto.
Another significant contribution came from Albert Sabin, who developed an oral polio vaccine (OPV) that was easier to administer and provided longer-lasting immunity. OPV was first used in Hungary in 1959 and Czechoslovakia in 1960, becoming the first country in the world to eliminate polio. The ease of administering OPV made it ideal for mass vaccination campaigns, and it played a crucial role in interrupting the transmission of the virus.
In 1962, Cuba began administering OPV in nationwide immunization programs, and by 1979, Rotary International had immunized 6 million children in the Philippines. In 1988, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to eradicate polio, and the number of cases reported annually decreased drastically from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to 33 in 2018.
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all children be fully vaccinated against polio with either IPV or OPV. The routine childhood immunization schedule in the United States includes IPV to protect against polio, and most adults in the country were likely vaccinated as children.
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The importance of polio vaccination for children
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a potentially serious disease that can lead to lifelong paralysis and even death. The poliovirus mainly affects children and can cause muscle pain, weakness, and paralysis. About 2 to 10 out of 100 children who develop paralysis from polio may die due to the virus affecting the muscles that help them breathe.
Thanks to successful vaccination programs, polio has been largely eradicated in the United States and other developed countries. However, it still exists in other parts of the world, and the risk of an outbreak remains if vaccination rates decrease. Therefore, maintaining high vaccination rates among children is crucial to prevent the spread of polio and protect them from this serious disease.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive four doses of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) as part of their routine childhood immunizations. IPV is administered through a series of shots and contains a killed or inactivated poliovirus. This vaccine is safe and effective, and it cannot cause polio. After receiving IPV, the body's immune system produces antibodies that can recognize and fight off the poliovirus if exposed.
In some countries with a high risk of polio infection, the oral polio vaccine (OPV) is used. OPV is given by mouth as a liquid and contains a weakened live vaccine. While OPV can create immunity and interrupt the chain of transmission, it is no longer used in the United States due to the rare risk of causing polio in unvaccinated individuals or those with weakened immune systems.
By ensuring that children receive the recommended doses of polio vaccine, we can protect them from this serious disease and help prevent its spread to others. The development of polio vaccines has been a significant achievement in public health, reducing the incidence of polio and saving countless lives worldwide.
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The types of polio vaccines available
Polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). There are two main types of polio vaccine: the inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and the weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all children be fully vaccinated against polio. The two vaccines have eliminated polio from most of the world, reducing the number of cases reported each year from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to 33 in 2018.
The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is given by injection and protects against all three serotypes of poliovirus. In children, a total of four shots of the polio vaccine are given. The shots are usually given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years of age. Each dose of this vaccine is usually given at least 4 weeks apart. The first dose of this vaccine may be given to infants as young as 6 weeks old. IPV is very safe, with mild redness or pain sometimes occurring at the site of injection.
The oral polio vaccine (OPV) is given by mouth and is easier to administer than IPV as it eliminates the need for sterile syringes. This makes OPV more suitable for mass vaccination campaigns. OPV also provides longer-lasting immunity than the Salk vaccine as it offers both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. However, OPV carries a small risk of vaccine-derived polio. One dose of trivalent OPV produces immunity to all three poliovirus serotypes in roughly 50% of recipients. Oral polio vaccines cause about three cases of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis per million doses given.
There are also monovalent oral polio vaccines (mOPV1, mOPV2, and mOPV3) that protect against each individual type of poliovirus, respectively. In addition, a novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) has been developed to make the vaccine safer and stop further outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).
In certain countries, such as the United States and Canada, an enhanced potency version of the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (eIPV) is used.
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Frequently asked questions
If you grew up in the US in the 1970s or later, you likely received the polio vaccine as part of your routine childhood immunisations. You can check your medical records or ask your parents if they remember. If your school or doctor's office is still operating, they may also have records. Some states have electronic Immunization Information Systems (IIS) that maintain vaccine records.
If you can't find your polio vaccination records, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated again. Repeating vaccinations is safe, even if you've already had a dose or the complete series.
The CDC recommends that children get four doses of the polio vaccine at specific intervals from ages 2 months to 6 years. Each state has its own requirements for children entering kindergarten, but all 50 states and Washington, D.C. require the polio vaccine.
The only polio vaccine that has been used in the US since 2000 is the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). It is given as a series of shots and is safe and proven to help fight off polio.
Most adults do not need the polio vaccine as they were likely vaccinated as children. However, adults who are at high risk for polio, such as healthcare workers or those travelling to certain parts of the world where polio occurs, may want to consider vaccination.
