From the Guidelines
For an individual who is 15 years overdue for their third dose of Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV), the recommended course of action is to simply receive the missing dose as soon as possible. There is no need to restart the vaccination series, regardless of how much time has elapsed since the previous doses. The individual should contact their healthcare provider to schedule an appointment for the single IPV dose. The standard IPV dose is 0.5 mL administered as an intramuscular injection, typically in the deltoid muscle for adults or the anterolateral thigh for children. After receiving this overdue third dose, the person will have completed the primary vaccination series for polio. This recommendation is based on the immunological principle that the immune system maintains memory cells from previous vaccine doses, even after long intervals 1. When exposed to the antigen again through vaccination, these memory cells rapidly respond to provide protection. The vaccine is generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects, which may include soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever, or fatigue lasting 1-2 days. It's worth noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an all-IPV schedule for routine childhood poliovirus vaccination, with all children receiving 4 doses of IPV at specific ages 1. However, for individuals who have already received some doses of IPV, the focus is on completing the series rather than adhering to a specific age-based schedule. Given the importance of protecting against polio and the low risk of adverse effects from the vaccine, receiving the overdue third dose of IPV is a straightforward and beneficial step for individuals who are behind on their vaccination schedule.
From the FDA Drug Label
Children and adolescents with a previously incomplete series of polio vaccine should receive sufficient additional doses of IPOL vaccine to complete the series. Interruption of the recommended schedule with a delay between doses does not interfere with the final immunity There is no need to start the series over again, regardless of the time elapsed between doses.
The third dose of the polio vaccine can be given 15 years later. No need to start the series over again, and the delay between doses does not interfere with the final immunity.
- The vaccine series can be completed at any time,
- Regardless of the time elapsed between doses. 2
From the Research
Polio Vaccination Schedule
The recommended course of action for an individual 15 years overdue for their third dose of Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) is not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, the studies provide information on the immunogenicity and safety of different polio vaccination schedules.
Immunogenicity of Polio Vaccines
- The study 3 found that sequential IPV-OPV immunisation schemes may reduce vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP) cases by 54% to 100% compared to OPV alone.
- The study 4 demonstrated that fractional doses of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (fIPV) can be an effective dose-sparing strategy for routine immunisation and outbreak responses.
- The study 5 found that differences in seroconversion rates were closely associated with both timing of first IPV administration and number of doses administered.
Safety and Efficacy
- The study 3 found that there is little or no difference in vaccination coverage, safety, or humoral response between IPV-OPV and OPV-only schedules.
- The study 6 recommended that children in the United States receive IPV for the first 2 doses of the polio vaccine series in most circumstances to reduce the risk of VAPP.
Polio Eradication Efforts
- The study 7 discussed the progress toward global eradication of poliomyelitis and the role of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in the end game.
- The study 3 mentioned that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended at least one IPV dose preceding routine immunisation with OPV to reduce VAPPs and VDPVs until polio could be eradicated.
Conclusion Not Applicable
As per the given guidelines, a conclusion section should not be provided. The information provided is based on the available studies and does not include personal opinions or advice.