POLIOMYSELITIS (polio) is an infectious disease caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract. It is most often spread through person-to-person contact with the stool of an infected person and may also be spread through oral/nasal fluid. Polio vaccination is the most effective way to prevent polio.
There are two kinds of polio vaccine: IPV, which is the shot recommended in the United States today, and a live, oral polio vaccine (OPV), which is drops that are swallowed.
Polio vaccine (VIS) (75 KB)
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment--Disease Control