Polio vaccine, inactivated
Generic name: polio vaccine, inactivated (IPV) [ POE-lee-oh ]
Brand name: Ipol
Dosage form: injectable suspension (-)
Drug class:Viral vaccines
What is polio vaccine?
The polio vaccine is used to help prevent this disease in children and adults.
This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
Polio vaccine is for use in adults and children who are at least 6 weeks old.
Like any vaccine, the polio vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
Warnings
You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.
Before taking this medicine
You should not receive this vaccine if:
you have moderate or severe illness with a fever;
you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing live or inactivated polio virus; or
you are allergic to 2-phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, neomycin, streptomycin, or polymyxin B.
You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.
To make sure polio vaccine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
a history of Guillain Barré syndrome (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine).
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.
Your doctor should determine whether you need this vaccine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
How is polio vaccine administered?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) under the skin or into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.
Polio vaccine is recommended for all children. It is also recommended for adults in the following situations:
people who have never been vaccinated against polio;
people who travel to areas where polio is common;
people who handle polio virus in a laboratory or other setting; or
people who treat patients who have polio.
Polio vaccine is given in a series of shots. Children should receive a total of 4 shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The other shots are then given at 4 months, 6 to 18 months, and then at 4 to 6 years of age.
Adults who have never been vaccinated against polio should receiv...
