Poliovirus Immunizations

Programs that provide inoculations which prevent high risk adults from contracting polio, an inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord which often produces paralysis of the muscles that are controlled by the spinal nerves that were damaged by the illness. Vaccination is recommended for travelers to areas or countries where poliomyelitis is epidemic or endemic; members of communities or specific population groups with diseases caused by wild polioviruses; laboratory workers who may handle specimens that may contain polioviruses; health care workers who have close contact with patients who may be excreting wild polioviruses; and unvaccinated adults whose children will be receiving oral polio vaccine.