Vaccination with Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine and Oral Poliovirus Vaccine in Denmark

In Denmark a polio vaccination program including both inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) has been in use since 1968. Three injections of IPV are given when the children are five, six, and 15 months of age. Subsequently, three vaccinations with trivalent OPV are administered at the age of three, four, and five years. The acceptance rate is high-93%-98%-and >95% of the population has antibodies to poliovirus. The geometric mean titer of serum antibodies is ≥10 IU for all three types. The epidemiology of poliomyelitis and the background for the development of the present vaccination schedule are reviewed.