Imovax Polio

Details

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Poliomyelitis vaccine is used to prevent the disease of Polio in infants and children. It mainly affects young children and is a communicable disease. The sources of Poliovirus can be the consumption of contaminated water and food.  This vaccine is available by the name of Imovax Polio worldwide in the pharmacies. It is considered to be a part of routine immunization and is a clear white solution.

Purpose:

• Sometimes Polio can get severe and lead to paralysis in parts of the body such as in the legs or arms. Imovax Polio can not cure the infection but prevent it from entering the body.
• It is meant for the prevention of poliomyelitis caused by poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3.

 

Mechanism:

This vaccine contains weakened poliovirus and is injected into the muscle of the leg or arm. Due to the introduction of a weakened virus in the body, our immune system produces antibodies providing us with a life long immunity against this disease.

 

Dosage:

• Poliomyelitis vaccine for children: 3 doses of 0.5mL each given at the age of 2 months, 4 months, and 6-18 months.
• Dosage for adults: 2 doses of 0.5mL each administered at the gap of 1- months and a third dose (if required) should be given 6-12 months later.

 

Types

There are two types of poliovirus vaccine used worldwide

1.   Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)

• It is injected into the patient’s leg or arm depending on the age of the patient.
• Its total of 4 doses is given to children between the age of 2 months to 6 years.

 

2.   Oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV)

• It is given through the mouth to children ageing 2 months to 6 years.

 

Side effects:

• Erythema, swelling, tenderness.
• Fever
• Tiredness and irritability
• Anorexia
• Body ache
• Vomiting
• Redness at the site of injection
• Urticaria, Myalgia, Lymphadenopathy, Paresthesia, seizures, fainting, convulsions among others are serious side effects of the Imovax Polio vaccine. If any of them appears, consult your doctor right away.

 

Precautions and measures:

• Store it at room temperature.
• Caps of prefilled syringes contain rubber latex, which can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals.
• Shake the syringe well before use.
• Use a proper and fresh needle, to fill the injection.
• Do not mix Poliomyelitis vaccine with other vaccines in the same syringe.
• Special care should be taken to ensure that the injection does not enter the blood vessel.
• Imovax Polio should not be administered in children below the age of 6 weeks.
• It is safe to be used for pregnant and lactating women.
• If the child experiences anaphylaxis shock within 24 hours of getting injected with vaccination, no further dose should be given.

 

Interactions:

Certain products that interact with the Poliomyelitis vaccine and make the immune system weak are: Prednisone, Cancer Chemotherapy, Cyclosporin, Tacrolimus among others.