Polio Vaccination

This vaccination is relevant for every age group and for everyone — including travellers to regions with a high risk of infection.

Primary immunisation normally takes place in childhood. After the age of 18, vaccination should be given once in combination with the next due booster against tetanus and diphtheria. A routine booster thereafter is recommended for all those at increased risk of infection, such as staff who come into contact with potentially infected individuals or their bodily secretions, or travellers to regions where polio still occurs.

The polio vaccine is an inactivated vaccine and is usually administered as a combination vaccine. The injection is given into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm.

The vaccine is well tolerated. The stimulation of the body’s own immune defences very commonly leads to redness or swelling at the injection site, which can also be painful. Rarely, general symptoms such as a raised temperature, chills, fatigue, muscle pain, or gastrointestinal complaints may occur during the first three days after vaccination. Such vaccination reactions generally subside after one to three days.

Good to know: Vaccine-derived poliomyelitis, which occurred in very rare cases with the previously used live vaccine (approximately 1 in 3 million vaccinations), is excluded with today’s vaccine.

To check whether you have vaccination protection, simply book an appointment for a vaccination status review at one of our avi practices and discuss this with our medical team. They will advise you in detail on whether you are already protected or whether you should receive a vaccination. The doctors will also check whether there are any further vaccinations that would be beneficial for you and, where appropriate, will administer these directly.