Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

Protects against:

Poliomyelitis, permanent paralysis, disability, and life-threatening complications

Who should get it:

• All children as part of routine immunization
• Unvaccinated at-risk adults
• Travelers to polio-endemic areas (Afghanistan, Pakistan)
• Communities during outbreak response campaigns

Schedule:

4-dose series for children:

• Dose 0: Birth
• Dose 1: 2 months
• Dose 2: 4 months
• Dose 3: 6-18 months
• Dose 4 (Booster): 4-6 years

Why vaccinate:

• Prevents permanent paralysis and disability
• No cure exists for polio—prevention is the only option
• Protects against all poliovirus types
• Provides intestinal immunity, reducing virus transmission
• Oral drops—easy to administer, no injection needed
• Critical for community protection and outbreak control

Important note:

Thanks to global vaccination efforts, polio is near eradication worldwide. Continued vaccination is essential to maintain protection and achieve complete global eradication. Polio remains endemic in only 2 countries.