New CDC Polio Vaccine Recommendations for Travelers to and from Infected Countries

The goal of worldwide polio eradication is in sight but not complete. Wild poliovirus (WPV) continues to circulate in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. During the last 12 months, another seven countries (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Israel, Somalia, and Syria) have had WPV outbreaks or environmental evidence of WPV circulation.

In May 2014, concern about polio exportation led the World Health Organization (WHO) to recommend a polio vaccination requirement for travelers leaving affected countries. To ensure compliance and reduce risk for exportation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added recommendations for a booster dose of polio vaccine for anyone in the U.S. planning travel to any of the 10 affected countries (now designated as “polio-infected”).

Recommendations for Travelers to Polio-Infected Countries

Infants and children: Routine vaccination with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) according to the CDC and AAP schedules (4 doses, given at ages 2, 4, 6-18 months, and 4–6 years). An accelerated schedule is provided for unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children.

Adults: IPV booster prior to travel for fully immunized adults (age >18 years) who plan to travel in an infected country.

Recommendations for Travelers Leaving Polio-Infected Countries

• Travelers planning to stay >4 weeks in one of the 10 polio-infected countries might require polio vaccine 4 to 52 weeks before leaving the at-risk country.

• Fully immunized children and adults should receive an additional dose of IPV if their last dose was received >12 months before departure from the at-risk country.

• All polio vaccinations should be documented on a WHO yellow card.