Vaccine Research

Polio Vaccines

Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal disease. It is caused by poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can infect the brain and spinal cord of an infected person, causing paralysis (unable to move body parts. Polio can be prevented by vaccination. Inactive Polio Vaccine (IPV) is the only polio vaccine supplied in the United States since 2000. You are given a shot in the arm or leg, depending on the age of the person. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) is used in some countries. Almost all children (99 out of 100) who receive all the recommended doses of polio vaccine will be protected from polio.