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Live attenuated polio vaccine and the risk of intussusception

H Jick1, C Vasilakis-Scaramozza, S S Jick

  • 1The Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, Boston University School of Medicine, 11 Muzzey Street, Lexington, MA 02421, USA.

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|October 27, 2001
PubMed

Insights

This study found no increased risk of intussusception in infants following oral polio vaccine (OPV) administration. The research indicates that OPV is safe and does not appear to be linked to this serious intestinal condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Vaccinology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Concerns exist regarding oral live attenuated rotavirus vaccine and intussusception risk.
  • This has prompted investigation into the potential effects of oral polio vaccine (OPV) on intussusception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between oral polio vaccine and intussusception in infants under one year of age.

Main Methods:

  • A nested case-control study was performed using the General Practice Research Database.
  • The study included 133 children with documented intussusception and 515 controls.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in the timing of oral polio vaccine administration was observed between cases and controls.
  • Relative risk estimates for intussusception associated with OPV ranged from 0.7 to 1.0, with wide confidence intervals, indicating no increased risk.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides no evidence to suggest that oral polio vaccine increases the risk of intussusception in young children.
Abstract

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