In the UK, the use or oral polio vaccine has been replaced by use of inactivated polio vaccine (1,2,3):
- combined vaccine - diphtheria, tetanus, acelular pertussis, inactivated polio, haemophilus inflenzae type B and Hep B (DTaP/IPV/Hib/Hep B)
- administered at two, three and four months old as part of the childhood immunisation schedule
- combined vaccine - diphtheria, tetanus, acelular pertussis, inactivated polio vaccine (dTaP/IPV)
- administered as part of the pre-school booster
- diphtheria, tetanus and inactivated polio vaccine (Td/IPV)
- recommended for boosting teenagers aged 13 to 18 years old
- can also be used for primary immunisation in unvaccinated individuals aged 10 years and over
- in consideration of travel vaccination - where tetanus, diphtheria or polio protection is required and the final dose of the relevant antigen was received more than ten years ago, Td/IPV should be given (2)
Oral polio vaccine is no longer available for routine use and will only be available for outbreak control (2).
Reference:
- Department of Health (August 10th 2004). New vaccinations for the childhood immunisation programme. PL/CMO/2004/3, PL/CNO/2004/2, PL/CPHO/2004/3.
- Department of Health (August 2004). Poliomyelitis - Green Book Update.
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/6-in-1-infant-vaccine/ (Accessed 26/4/19)