Ipol

Generic Name: poliovirus vaccine, inactivated
Other Brand Names: poliovirus vaccine, inactivated

What is polio vaccine (IPV)?

Polio is a serious disease caused by a virus. It enters a person’s body through the mouth. Sometimes it does not cause serious illness. But sometime it causes paralysis (can’t move an arm or a leg). It can cause death to a person who gets it by paralyzing the muscles that help them breathe. IPV vaccine exposes the individual to the inactivated (killed) virus and causes the body to develop immunity to the disease.

Polio vaccine is recommended for all children. Polio vaccine is also recommended for adults who have not been previously vaccinated and may: travel to areas of the world where polio is common; handle polio virus in a laboratory or other setting; or treat patients who have polio.

Although no cases of wild polio have been reported in the United States for over 20 years, it is still common in some parts of the world. It would only take one case of polio from another country to bring the disease back if we were not protected by the vaccine.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking polio vaccine (IPV)?

Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the antibiotics neomycin or streptomycin, or a serious allergic reaction after a dose of IPV should not get another dose.

Before receiving polio vaccine, talk to your doctor if you:

  • have HIV or AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system;

  • are taking a medication that affects the immune system (e.g. steroids, anti-rejection medications);

  • have cancer; or

  • are receiving cancer treatment with x-rays, radiation, or medication.

Ask your healthcare provider for more information. Polio vaccine may not be recommended in some cases.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting IPV vaccine.

Talk to your doctor before receiving IPV vaccine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take polio vaccine (IPV)?

Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will administer the polio vaccine as an injection.

Children should get 4 doses of IPV vaccine, one dose at each of the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and a booster dose at 4-6 years.

Adults who have never been vaccinated against polio should receive 3 doses: the first may be given at any time, the second dose should be given 1-2 months later, and the third dose should be given 6-12 months after the second.

Adults who have had 1 or 2 doses of polio vaccine in the past should get the remaining 1 or 2 doses. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since the earlier dose(s).

IPV may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

What happens if I miss a dose of polio vaccine (IPV)?

Contact your doctor if a dose of IPV vaccine is missed or if you get behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

Where can I get more information about polio vaccine (IPV)?
Your pharmacist has information about polio vaccine (IPV) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of polio vaccine (IPV)?

Getting polio disease is much riskier than getting IPV vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of IPV vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare but serious side effects from IPV vaccine are experienced:

  • a serious allergic reaction including swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; hives; paleness; weakness; dizziness; or a fast heart beat within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot;

  • high fever; or

  • behavior changes.

Some people who get IPV get a sore spot where the shot was given. The vaccine used today has never been known to cause any serious problems, and most people don’t have any problems at all from it.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Contact your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about polio vaccine (IPV)?

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting IPV vaccine.

What should I avoid while taking polio vaccine (IPV)?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving IPV vaccine.

What other drugs will affect polio vaccine (IPV)?

Talk to your doctor before receiving IPV vaccine if you are taking any of the following medications that may affect the immune system:

  • an oral or injectable steroid medication such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, others), or triamcinolone (Aristocort);

  • an inhaled or nasal steroid such as beclomethasone (Qvar, Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril, Vancenase), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), flunisolide (Aerobid, Nasalide, Nasarel), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), or triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort);

  • treatment for cancer with chemotherapy (medication), radiation, or x-rays;

  • azathioprine (Imuran);

  • basiliximab (Simulect);

  • cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);

  • etanercept (Enbrel);

  • leflunomide (Arava);

  • muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);

  • mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);

  • sirolimus (Rapamune); or

  • tacrolimus (Prograf).

Polio vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccinations.

What happens if I have an overdose of polio vaccine (IPV)?

An overdose of IPV vaccine is unlikely to occur.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008