A Polio-Free US Thanks to Vaccine Efforts

Thanks to effective vaccine, the United States has been polio-free since 1979. But poliovirus is still a threat in some countries. Be part of the success story and get your child vaccinated on schedule.

You may need a booster shot before you travel to a high-risk area for polio, even if you were vaccinated as a child or have been infected with poliovirus.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is an infectious viral disease that can strike at any age and affects a person's nervous system. In the late 1940s to the early 1950s, polio crippled an average of over 35,000 people in the United States each year; it was one of the most feared diseases of the twentieth century. Thanks to the polio vaccine, dedicated health care professionals, and parents who vaccinate their children on schedule, polio has been eliminated in this country for over 30 years.

Maintaining the success rate of U.S. vaccination efforts is crucial since the disease still occurs in some parts of the world. People most at risk are those who never had polio vaccine, those who never received all the recommended vaccine doses, and those traveling to areas where polio is still common.

The Childhood Polio Vaccination Schedule

To gain the most effective protection, children should get four doses of polio vaccine. This vaccine is given as a shot in the arm or leg and is extremely safe. Ideally, your child should receive their first three doses at ages

• 2 months
• 4 months
• and 6 through 18 months

A booster dose should be given at age 4 through 6 years.

Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) may sometimes be given in the same shot with other vaccines (in other words, in a combination vaccine), so discuss this option with your child's doctor. Getting the recommended doses of the polio vaccine is vital to keeping the United States polio-free.

For information about adults who may not have received sufficient vaccine protection, see the adult polio vaccination schedule.

Paying for Vaccine

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of vaccines, but you may want to check with your insurance provider before visiting your pediatrician, health care professional, or local health department for a vaccination. If you don't have insurance, or if it doesn't cover vaccines, the Vaccines for Children Program may be able to help. This program helps families of eligible children who might not otherwise have access to vaccines. The program provides vaccines at no cost to health care providers who serve eligible children.

Traveling to Another Country?

While polio has been eliminated from most of the world, the disease still occurs in a few countries in Asia and Africa. You may need a booster shot before you travel to a high-risk area for polio, even if you were vaccinated as a child or have been infected with poliovirus. A booster is an additional dose of vaccine to ensure the original vaccine series remains effective.

See CDC's Travelers Health page, the U.S. State Department International Travel page, or the World Health Organization site for timely travel health information.

Make sure you get your travel vaccination(s) well before your departure date to ensure complete protection. See your health care professional for more information.

More Information

• History of Polio Timeline
• Whatever Happened to Polio?
• March of Dimes
• Global Polio Eradication Initiative
• Polio