Ipol (Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated) Injection: Uses & Dosage

Brand: Ipol

Generic: Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated

Ipol provides protection against infection by poliovirus that causes Poliomyelitis.

Poliomyelitis or polio is an infectious and debilitating disease that causes paralysis of muscles in a leg, the neck, head or diaphragm.

Polio can cause lifelong paralysis. The poliovirus easily transmits via the fecal-oral route, and can infect anyone at any age.

Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to develop immunity against polioviruses, so they cannot multiply and infect nerve cells to cause infection.

Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine protects children and adults from infection. This particular formulation is made from inactivated viruses that provide protection against three serotypes of polioviruses.

Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine can be given to adults and children at least 6 weeks old.

In many countries, Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine is combined or administered along with other vaccines such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type B.

Note that Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine does not treat active polio infection. Also like any other vaccines, Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine may not provide protection to everyone who took it.

Only a health professional or health worker can give you Poliovirus Vaccine.

Before using Ipol, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it.

You cannot take Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine if you have the following:

Have any illness with a fever
Experienced sensitivities or allergies to any vaccine containing inactivated polioviruses
Experienced moderated or severe allergy to polio vaccine containing live polio viruses
Allergy to 2-phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, neomycin, streptomycin, or polymyxin B
Experienced severe and life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to previous Poliovirus Vaccine

You need to tell the doctor all your health problems before taking Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine.

The doctor needs to know if you have the following conditions:

Weak immune system
Recently underwent bone marrow transplant
Receiving treatment for cancer
History of Guillain Barré syndrome
Previous reactions to vaccines

If you only have a minor cold with or without low-grade fever (less than 38 C), you can still receive Poliovirus Vaccine. If you have severe illness, just wait and get well first before receiving Poliovirus Vaccine.

Tell the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking Poliovirus Vaccine. This particular formulation contains live viruses, which can harm the unborn baby when given to pregnant patients.

Do not breastfeed if you recently received Poliovirus Vaccine. Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine can be given to infants at least 6 weeks old.

To use Ipol properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor.

Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine is given by injecting into the muscle (intramuscular route) or under the skin (subcutaneous route). Only a health professional can give you Poliovirus Vaccine.

In unvaccinated children, Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine is given four times. Each dose must be spaced at least eight weeks or more. The vaccine must be given at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age.

Children and teenagers with incomplete vaccination status must receive doses until the recommended four doses have been reached.

Unvaccinated adults must be given a total of three doses. First, two doses are given and spaced 1 or 2 months while the third dose is given 6 to 12 months later.

Adults who are incompletely vaccinated must be given one dose and given another dose 1 or 2 months later until a total of three doses is achieved.

Completely vaccinated adults who will travel to areas where polio is prevalent, will treat a patient with polio, or handle poliovirus in a laboratory must receive one dose of Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine.

In small children and babies, Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine is injected in the upper thigh. The preferred injection site for older children and adults is the upper arm. Do not inject Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine in a blood vessel.

Make sure to dispose of used syringes and packaging properly. You can put them all in a large sealed container and mark as infectious sharps.

If you miss a dose or cannot make it to the schedule, call your doctor right away. The next dose is given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

Because Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine is given by a health professional and it is packaged in a pre-filled syringe for single-dose administration, overdosing is highly unlikely.

Before using Ipol, there are some precautions you must take.

Make sure to follow the schedule and keep up with doctor’s appointments in receiving Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine.

Incomplete or not following the schedule may reduce protection against poliovirus infection.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Ipol.

Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine is relatively safe. Years of studies showed that the incidence of side effects to Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine is very low.