Should I Be Worried About My Kids Getting Polio?

How concerned should we be about polio? Both my kids are vaccinated. Is there any risk still?
—Katie

Basically, no. The polio vaccine is extremely, extremely good at preventing polio. The standard vaccine schedule is a shot at two months, one at four months, one at six months, and then one at age 4. Estimates suggest that after two shots, babies have 90% protection against polio infection, and by six months that is 99%. The booster dose at age 4 is intended to extend protection for a lifetime.

Assuming your children are up to date on their vaccines, they are extremely well protected.

For infants under four months, maternal polio antibodies (which you have due to your own vaccination as a child) provide some protection.

It is also important to note that despite a significant amount of discussion and fear, we haven’t seen a large number of polio cases occurring. This is because many people are vaccinated. Routine vaccination for polio, and other childhood illnesses, was a challenge during the pandemic. The appearance of polio in an unvaccinated individual in the U.S. is a reminder that vaccines are what are standing between us and major childhood disease outbreaks.

Even if polio were to resurge in the U.S., the vaccine is extremely effective and your children would be protected.