Live attenuated polio vaccine and the risk of intussusception

Aims Since suspicion has been raised that administration of an oral live at tenuated rotavirus vaccine may increase the risk of intussusception in youn g children, there has been concern about the possible effects of oral polio vaccine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between ora l attenuated polio vaccine and intussusception in children below the age of 1 year. Methods We conducted a nested case-control analysis based on data from the General Practice Research Database which encompassed 133 children who devel oped documented intussusception during the first year of life and 515 contr ols. Results The time from oral polio vaccine to the index date was similar in c ases and controls. Relative risk estimates for intussusception ranged from 0.7 (95% CI 0.2, 2.1) for babies whose last oral polio vaccine was given 29 -35 days before their index date to 1.0 (95% CI 0.4, 2.3) for those whose l ast oral polio vaccine was given 15-21 days before their index date (compar ed with babies vaccinated more than 43 days before their index date). Conclusions There is no suggestion that oral polio vaccine increases the ri sk for intussusception.