Medications and Drugs

Travel Health and Vaccines Slideshow Pictures

Brand Names: Ipol

Generic Name: polio vaccine (IPV) (Pronunciation: POE lee oh)

• What is polio vaccine (Ipol)?
• What are the possible side effects of polio vaccine (Ipol)?
• What is the most important information I should know about polio vaccine (Ipol)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving polio vaccine (Ipol)?
• How is polio vaccine administered (Ipol)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Ipol)?
• What happens if I overdose (Ipol)?
• What should I avoid before or after getting polio vaccine (Ipol)?
• What other drugs will affect polio vaccine (Ipol)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is polio vaccine (Ipol)?

Polio affects the central nervous system and spinal cord. It can cause muscle weakness and paralysis. Polio is a life-threatening condition because it can paralyze the muscles that help you breathe.

The polio vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in children.

This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, 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 2 months old.

Like any vaccine, the polio vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.

What are the possible side effects of polio vaccine (Ipol)?

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with polio vaccine is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• extreme drowsiness, fainting;
• seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
• high fever (within a few hours or a few days after the vaccine).

Less serious side effects include:

• redness, pain, swelling, or a lump where the shot was given;
• low fever;
• joint pain, body aches;
• drowsiness; or
• vomiting.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

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

The polio vaccine is given in a series of shots. The number of shots required and the booster schedule will depend on the age of the person being vaccinated. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.

Be sure you receive all recommended doses of this vaccine. If you do not receive the full series of vaccines, you may not be fully protected against the disease.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. 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.

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with polio vaccine is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.