VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Many vaccine information statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

Polio Vaccine:

What You Need to Know

1. Why get vaccinated?

Polio vaccine can prevent polio.

Polio (or poliomyelitis) is a disabling and lifethreatening disease caused by poliovirus, which can 

infect a person’s spinal cord, leading to paralysis.

Most people infected with poliovirus have no 

symptoms, and many recover without complications. 

Some people will experience sore throat, fever, 

tiredness, nausea, headache, or stomach pain.

A smaller group of people will develop more serious 

symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord:

 Paresthesia (feeling of pins and needles in the legs),

 Meningitis (infection of the covering of the spinal 

cord and/or brain), or

 Paralysis (can’t move parts of the body) or 

weakness in the arms, legs, or both.

Paralysis is the most severe symptom associated 

with polio because it can lead to permanent 

disability and death.

Improvements in limb paralysis can occur, but in 

some people new muscle pain and weakness may 

develop 15 to 40 years later. This is called “post-polio 

syndrome.”

Polio has been eliminated from the United States, 

but it still occurs in other parts of the world. The best 

way to protect yourself and keep the United States 

polio-free is to maintain high immunity (protection) 

in the population against polio through vaccination.

2. Polio vaccine

Children should usually get 4 doses of polio vaccine 

at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6–18 months, and 

4–6 years.

Most adults do not need polio vaccine because they 

were already vaccinated against polio as children. 

Some adults are at higher risk and should consider 

polio vaccination, including:

 People traveling to certain parts of the world

 Laboratory workers who might handle poliovirus

 Health care workers treating patients who could 

have polio

 Unvaccinated people whose children will be 

receiving oral poliovirus vaccine (for example, 

international adoptees or refugees)

Polio vaccine may be given as a stand-alone vaccine, 

or as part of a combination vaccine (a type of vaccine 

that combines more than one vaccine together into 

one shot).

Polio vaccine may be given at the same time as 

other vaccines.
OFFICE 

USE 

ONLY

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

8/6/2021

Vaccine Information Statement

Polio Vaccine

3. Talk with your health 

care provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting 

the vaccine:

 Has had an allergic reaction after a previous 

dose of polio vaccine, or has any severe, lifethreatening allergies

In some cases, your health care provider may decide 

to postpone polio vaccination until a future visit.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be 

vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill 

should usually wait until they recover before getting 

polio vaccine.

Not much is known about the risks of this vaccine 

for pregnant or breastfeeding people. However, 

polio vaccine can be given if a pregnant person is at 

increased risk for infection and requires immediate 

protection.

Your health care provider can give you more 

information.

4. Risks of a vaccine reaction

 A sore spot with redness, swelling, or pain 

where the shot is given can happen after polio 

vaccination.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, 

including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel 

dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance 

of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other 

serious injury, or death.

5. What if there is a serious 

problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the 

vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs 

of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the 

face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, 

dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person 

to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health 

care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine 

Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your 

health care provider will usually file this report, or 

you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS 

is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff 

members do not give medical advice.

6. The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines. Claims regarding alleged injury or 

death due to vaccination have a time limit for filing, 

which may be as short as two years. Visit the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation or 

call 1-800-338-2382 to learn about the program and 

about filing a claim.

7. How can I learn more?

 Ask your health care provider.

 Call your local or state health department.

 Visit the website of the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for vaccine package 

inserts and additional information at 

www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines.

 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

-Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

-Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.