Pathogen
Poliovirus (3 types).
Patient services
Poliomyelitis (polio)
Source: RKI vaccines A–Z. Patient information, not medical advice.
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Transmission
Faecal-oral (contaminated water/food), less often droplet.
Clinical picture
In < 1 % of infections, flaccid paralysis of legs, more rarely respiratory muscles. Lifelong disability possible.
Vaccine protection
Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) by injection. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) no longer used in Germany since 1998.
Who should be vaccinated?
All infants. Booster in adolescence and when travelling to endemic regions (Afghanistan, Pakistan).
Vaccination schedule (STIKO)
- 1. Dosis (2 Monate)
- 2. Dosis (4 Monate)
- 3. Dosis (11 Monate)
- Auffrischung (9–16 J.)
Booster: Reise in Endemiegebiete: alle 10 Jahre. Sonst keine Routine-Auffrischung im Erwachsenenalter.
Further information on Poliomyelitis (polio): RKI vaccines A–Z.
