The standard vaccine schedule can be used for immunocompromised or immunodeficient children. The vaccine is inactivated and therefore safe in this patient population. The committee added a caveat, however, that IPV may not be as effective for protection of these children, compared to children with normal immune systems.
IPV has become the vaccine of choice to fight polio since 2000 in the United States, the AAP committee noted, replacing oral poliovirus vaccine. IPV is currently licensed as one single IPV product (Ipol/Poliovax, Sanofi Pasteur) and three combination vaccine products: DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix, GlaxoSmithKline); DTaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel, Sanofi Pasteur); and DTaP-IPV (Kinrix, GlaxoSmithKline).
The policy statement recommends a fifth dose be given when DTap-IPV/Hib is used for the first four doses. Specifically, IPV alone or DTaP-IPV should be administered on or after a child’s fourth birthday. Again, at least a 6-month interval is recommended before administration of the final (fifth) dose.
A final recommendation in the statement addresses vaccination of adults, not children. The committee wrote that adults at increased risk of exposure to wild-type poliovirus and who previously completed primary immunization with IPV or OPV can receive additional protection via a single IPV dose.
Dr. Pichichero and Dr. Jackson said that they had no relevant disclosures.