Poliomyelitis Prevention

Abstract

Recent data have indicated that 38% of 1- to 4-year-old children have not had primary vaccination against poliomyelitis. To ensure continuing freedom from poliomyelitis, all children should be immunized, beginning in infancy. The primary poliovirus vaccines in use today are the trivalent oral polio vaccine, which is the vaccine of choice for primary vaccination of children in the United States, and inactivated polio vaccine. Prospective vaccinees should be made aware of the reasons why recommendations are made for specific vaccines at particular ages and under certain circumstances.