1 May 2026Vaccines, immunoglobulins and antisera
Oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV)
Oral poliomyelitis vaccine guidance for prevention of poliomyelitis in combination with IPV.
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Indications
Prevention of poliomyelitis, in combination with the inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (IPV).
Composition, forms, route of administration
- Live-attenuated bivalent virus vaccine against poliovirus types 1 and 3.
- Oral suspension in multidose vial, to be administered on the tongue with a dropper.
Dose and vaccination schedule
One dose equals 2 drops, approximately 0.1 ml.
In endemic areas or areas at risk of poliovirus importation
- Child: 4 doses approximately 4 weeks apart, at birth then at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
- The fourth dose at 14 weeks is administered in combination with a dose of IPV.
Other areas
- Child: 3 doses approximately 4 weeks apart, at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
- The third dose at 14 weeks is administered in combination with a dose of IPV.
Additional notes
- Respect an interval of at least 4 weeks between each dose.
- Protection against poliomyelitis lasts for life after 3 doses.
- In children who start routine vaccination late, after the age of 3 months, the IPV dose is administered together with the first dose of bOPV, followed by 2 doses of bOPV alone administered 4 weeks apart.
- For the vaccination schedule, follow national recommendations.
- Monovalent oral type 2 vaccines (mOPV and nOPV) are also available but are used exclusively for responding to epidemics.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer in the event of severe immunodepression because of the risk of paralytic poliomyelitis. Use the injectable vaccine IPV instead. Asymptomatic HIV infection is not a contra-indication.
- Vaccination should be postponed in the event of severe acute febrile illness; minor infections are not contra-indications.
- May cause, exceptionally, paralytic poliomyelitis.
- In the event of vomiting or diarrhoea when the vaccine is administered, give the usual dose followed by an extra dose once gastrointestinal symptoms have improved.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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