Can a 47-year-old man with no prior polio immunization receive the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) as a single‑antigen injectable product?

IPV Availability as a Single-Antigen Injectable Vaccine

Yes, inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is available as a single-antigen injectable product in the United States, and a 47-year-old unvaccinated man can receive it as a standalone vaccine. 1, 2

Available Single-Antigen IPV Products

Two single-antigen IPV products are licensed in the United States, though only one is currently distributed 1:

• IPOL® (Sanofi Pasteur) – The only single-antigen IPV both licensed and distributed in the U.S. 1

  • Contains all three poliovirus types (1,2, and 3) as a sterile suspension 1
  • Administered as 0.5 mL subcutaneously 1
  • Does not contain thimerosal 1

• POLIOVAX® – Licensed but not distributed in the United States 1

Combination Products (Not Single-Antigen)

While combination vaccines containing IPV exist, these are not single-antigen products 1:

• Kinrix (DTaP-IPV) – Licensed only for children aged 4-6 years as the fifth DTaP and fourth IPV dose 1
• Pediarix (DTaP-Hepatitis B-IPV) – Pediatric combination vaccine 1

These combination products are restricted to pediatric populations and specific dose sequences, making them inappropriate for adult primary vaccination 1.

Vaccination Recommendations for This Patient

For an unvaccinated 47-year-old man, IPV vaccination is only recommended if he falls into a high-risk category 3, 4, 2:

High-Risk Categories Requiring IPV 4, 2:

• Travelers to regions where polio is epidemic or endemic 3, 4
• Healthcare workers with close contact to patients potentially excreting wild polioviruses 4, 2
• Laboratory workers handling specimens that might contain polioviruses 3, 4
• Members of communities with active wild poliovirus circulation 4, 2

If High-Risk: Standard Adult Primary Series 3, 4

The recommended schedule for unvaccinated adults at increased risk consists of three doses of single-antigen IPV 1, 3:

1. Dose 1 – Initial administration
2. Dose 2 – 4-8 weeks after Dose 1 1, 4
3. Dose 3 – 6-12 months after Dose 2 1, 3

This schedule achieves 96-100% seroconversion for all three poliovirus serotypes 4.

Accelerated Schedules When Rapid Protection Is Needed 1, 4

• >8 weeks available – Give 3 IPV doses ≥4 weeks apart 1, 4
• 4-8 weeks available – Give 2 IPV doses ≥4 weeks apart 1, 4
• <4 weeks available – Give a single IPV dose 1

Any remaining doses should be completed later at recommended intervals if the individual remains at increased risk 1, 4.

Important Clinical Considerations

Routine Vaccination Not Recommended 4, 2

• Routine poliovirus vaccination is unnecessary for healthy U.S. adults without risk factors 4, 2
• The majority of U.S.-born adults are presumed immune from childhood vaccination 4
• Domestic exposure risk is minimal 4

Safety Profile 3, 4

• IPV is extremely well tolerated with no serious adverse events documented 1, 3
• Cannot cause vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP), unlike oral polio vaccine 4, 5

Contraindications 1, 3, 4

• History of anaphylaxis to previous IPV dose 1, 4
• Hypersensitivity to streptomycin, polymyxin B, or neomycin (trace components) 1, 3
• Hypersensitivity to 2-phenoxyethanol or formaldehyde (vaccine stabilizers) 4

Common Pitfall to Avoid

Do not confuse the availability of single-antigen IPV (IPOL®) with pediatric combination vaccines containing IPV 1. The combination products are age-restricted and cannot be used for adult primary vaccination 1. Always use IPOL® for adult vaccination 1, 2.