Polio can cause serious lifelong conditions, including paralysis, muscle weakness, loss of muscle tissue, and difficulty swallowing. Even children who seem to fully recover from polio can develop severe polio symptoms later in life. The best way to prevent the serious effects of polio is to get vaccinated. All children should get four doses of IPV as part of their routine childhood vaccination schedule. Adults who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated against polio should complete a three-dose series of IPV.
The polio vaccine has been part of routine childhood vaccinations for decades. Receiving the recommended doses of IPV is 99% effective at protecting children from polio and its serious effects. Routine childhood vaccination not only protects children but can also prevent the spread of polio to unvaccinated adults.
Updated December 20, 2024
