10/16/26 Public Health Education Topic: Polio
Per CDC
Key points
Vaccination has helped eliminate wild poliovirus in the United States.
Maintaining high immunity (protection) against polio through vaccination is the best way to continue keeping people safe from polio.
The polio vaccine is safe and effective.
What it is
Polio was once one of the most feared diseases in the United States. Thanks to the polio vaccine, wild poliovirus has been eliminated in this country.
The best way to keep people safe is through vaccination. This maintains a high level of protection (also called immunity) in the population.
Signs and symptoms
Most people who get infected with poliovirus will not have any visible symptoms.
About 1 out of 4 people with poliovirus infection will have flu-like symptoms that can include:
Sore throat
Fever
Tiredness
Nausea
Headache
Stomach pain
These symptoms usually last 2 to 5 days, then go away on their own.
Serious symptoms
A smaller proportion of people with poliovirus infection will develop more serious symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord:
Meningitis (infection of the covering of the spinal cord and/or brain)—occurs in about 1 to 5 out of 100 people with poliovirus infection, depending on virus type.
Paralysis (can't move parts of the body) or weakness in the arms, legs, or both—occurs in about 1 out of 200 people to 1 in 2000 people, depending on virus type.
Paralysis is the most severe symptom associated with poliovirus because it can lead to permanent disability and death. Between 2 to 10 out of 100 people who have paralysis from poliovirus infection die, because the virus affects the muscles that help them breathe
Prevention
Protect your child with vaccination. Polio vaccine protects children by preparing their bodies to fight the poliovirus. For best protection, children should get 4 doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). Almost all children (more than 99%) who get all the recommended doses of the inactivated polio vaccine will be protected.
If you know or suspect that you are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, you should receive polio vaccination. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about polio or your vaccination status. Your provider can help you understand your options.
In addition to protecting yourself with the vaccine, practice good hand hygiene.
Wash hands often with soap and water. Note that alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill poliovirus.
To learn more please visit: About Polio in the United States | Polio | CDC
