Intradermal Versus Intramuscular Polio Vaccine Booster in HIV-Infected Subjects

Oral polio vaccine (OPV) will not be sufficient to eradicate polio. OPV has failed to provide adequate polio immunity in certain immunocompromised populations, such as people with AIDS. Also, OPV can mutate and form neurovirulent strains capable of causing polio outbreaks. Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which cannot mutate into neurovirulent strains and which is more effective in populations that have failed to respond to OPV, will be needed globally to eradicate polio, but it is unaffordable for many developing countries. Because there are more immune cells in the skin than in the muscle, intradermal administration of IPV may be a way to increase the efficacy and reduce the dose (and thus the cost) of IPV. We plan to conduct a clinical trial randomizing 231 HIV-infected adults to receive a booster of two-fifths dose intradermal IPV, one-fifth dose intradermal IPV, full dose intramuscular IPV, or two-fifths dose intramuscular IPV. We will measure polio immunity before and after vaccine administration. Through this study, we will determine the optimal booster dose of intradermal IPV, whether intradermal works better than intramuscular IPV administration, and whether intradermal IPV is effective in an immunocompromised population. The data from this trial could contribute to global polio eradication.

Inclusion criteria

• documented HIV infection
• age of at least 18 years old
• HIV viral load <400 on the most recent test

Exclusion criteria

• current acute moderate to severe illness (demonstrated by fever over 100.4 Fahrenheit, shortness of breath, altered mental status, or by judgment of the primary clinician)
• current pregnancy
• history of allergic reaction to a polio shot,
• history of a life-threatening allergic reaction to neomycin, streptomycin, or polymyxin B