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Most people who get the polio vaccine develop no side effects. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, can cause side effects. Most side effects are minor, meaning that the symptoms improve on their own or are easily treated by the healthcare provider. In rare cases, side effects can be more serious. In rare cases, they can cause severe harm or death. However, getting a polio vaccine is much safer than getting polio.
(Click Polio Vaccine Side Effects for more information.)
The polio vaccine is not appropriate for everyone (see Polio Vaccine Precautions to learn about groups of people who should wait or not receive the vaccine.)
No wild polio has been reported in the United States for more than 20 years. However, the disease is still common in some parts of the world. It would only take one case of polio from another country to bring the disease back if we were not protected by polio vaccine. If the effort to eliminate the disease from the world is successful, some day we won't need a vaccine. Until then, we need to keep getting our children vaccinated.
The inactivated polio vaccine is available by itself or in combination with other routine childhood vaccines. Inactivated polio vaccines include:
- IPOL® -- just the IPV
- Pediarix® -- diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines (DTaP), the hepatitis B vaccine, and IPV
- Pentacel® -- diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines (DTaP), the Hib vaccine, and IPV
- Kinrix® -- diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines (DTaP) and IPV.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD