CDC changes polio-vaccine guidelines for children

January 23, 1997
Web posted at: 8:07 p.m. EST

ATLANTA (CNN) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is changing its polio-vaccine recommendations to reduce the number of children who get polio from the oral form of the vaccine.

Under current guidelines, most children get three doses of oral vaccine by age 2. But each year, eight to 10 children in the United States get polio from the oral vaccine, which contains live, but weakened, polio virus.

The CDC now recommends, in most cases, that children get two doses of an injected polio vaccine containing dead virus, followed by two doses of the oral vaccine.

Related story:

• Panel urges changes in polio vaccine - June 21, 1996

Related site:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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