WHO’s International Travel and Health recommends that all travellers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than 4 weeks) from infected areas should receive an additional dose of OPV or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel.
For those travelling out of Papua New Guinea
- If you are a resident or long term visitor (after stays of more than 4 weeks in any part of Papua New Guinea), get a polio vaccine or booster dose (OPV or IPV) before leaving the country.
- Make sure to get a WHO IHR International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (also called yellow booklet) to record your polio vaccination and serve as proof of vaccination.
- Ideally, the vaccine should be received between 4 weeks and 12 months before leaving Papua New Guinea.
- However, in case of unavoidable last minute travel, get one dose of OPV or IPV prior to departure if you have not received a documented dose of polio vaccine within the previous 12 months.
For those travelling to Papua New Guinea
- Check with your country’s national health authorities on the required polio vaccination requirements and schedules.
- Adult travelers who have previously received three or more doses of OPV or IPV should also be given another one-time booster dose of polio vaccine.
- For those who previously received only IPV, OPV should be the choice for the booster dose, if available and feasible.
For more information, check out the Q&A for travelers in this link:
