Poliovac Dosage/Direction for Use

Before administration, parenteral drug products should be checked visually for any deviation from normal appearance including container integrity. The vial and its packaging should be inspected prior to use for evidence of leakage. If evidence of such defects is observed, the vial should not be used.
After preparation of the injection site, immediately administer Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) intramuscularly or subcutaneously. In infants and small children, the mid-lateral aspect of the thigh is the preferred site. In older children and adults Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) should be administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously in the deltoid area.
Care should be taken to avoid administering the injection into or near blood vessels and nerves. If blood or any suspicious discoloration appears in the syringe, do not inject but discard contents and repeat procedures using a new dose of vaccine administered at a different site.
DO NOT ADMINISTER VACCINE INTRAVENOUSLY.
Only sterile needles and syringes should be used for each injection.
Once opened, multi-dose vials should be kept between +2ºC and +8ºC. Multi-dose vials of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) from which one or more doses of vaccine have been removed during an immunisation session may be used in subsequent immunisation sessions for up to a maximum of 28 days, provided that all of the following conditions are met (as described in the WHO policy statement: Handling of multi dose vaccine vials after opening, WHO/IVB/14.07): The vaccine is currently prequalified by WHO; The vaccine is approved for use for up to 28 days after opening the vial, as determined by WHO; The expiry date of the vaccine has not passed; The vaccine vial has been, and will continue to be, stored at WHO- or manufacturer recommended temperatures; furthermore, the vaccine vial monitor, if one is attached, is visible on the vaccine label and is not past its discard point, and the vaccine has not been damaged by freezing.
The vaccine should be visually inspected for any foreign particulate matter and/or variation of physical aspect prior to administration. In event of either being observed discard the vaccine.
Children: The primary series of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) consists of three 0.5 ml doses at minimum interval of 4 weeks administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously.
IPV can be used in different schedules depending on the local epidemiology of polio infection.
IPV-only schedule: In countries with both sustained high immunization coverage and the lowest risk of both WPV importation and transmission, a primary series of 3 doses of IPV should be administered beginning at 2 months of age. If the primary series begins earlier (e.g. with a 6, 10 and 14-week schedule) then a booster dose should be given after an interval of ≥ 6 months (for a 4-dose schedule).
Vaccination with OPV plus IPV: IPV might be used with OPV as recommended by W.H.O. as follows: In polio-endemic countries and in countries at high risk for importation and subsequent spread, WHO recommends an OPV birth dose (a zero dose) followed by a primary series of 3 OPV and at least 1 IPV dose. IPV should be given from 14 weeks of age and can be co-administered with an OPV dose. The primary series can be administered according to the regular schedules of national immunization programmes, for example at 6, 10, and 14 weeks (OPV1, OPV2, OPV3+IPV), or at 2, 4, and 6 months (OPV1, OPV2+IPV, OPV3 or OPV1, OPV2, OPV3+IPV).
Sequential IPV-OPV schedule: IPV might be used with sequential IPV-OPV schedule as recommended by the W.H.O. in countries with high immunization coverage and low importation risk, an IPV-OPV sequential schedule can be used when VAPP is a significant concern. For sequential IPV-OPV schedules, WHO recommends that IPV be given at 2 months of age (e.g. a 3-dose IPV-OPV-OPV schedule) or at 2 months and 3-4 months of age (e.g. a 4-dose IPV-IPV-OPV-OPV schedule) followed by at least 2 doses of OPV. Each of the doses in the primary series should be separated by 4-8 weeks depending on the risk of exposure to poliovirus in early childhood.
Use with Other Vaccines: From historical data on the antibody responses to diphtheria, tetanus, whole-cell or acellular pertussis, Hib, or hepatitis B vaccines used concomitantly with Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3), no interferences have been observed on the immunological end points accepted for clinical protection.
If the third dose of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) is given between 15 to 18 months of age, it may be desirable to administer this dose with Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and/or other vaccines using separate syringes at separate sites, but no data on the immunological interference between Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) and these vaccines exist.
Use in Previously Vaccinated Children: Interruption of the recommended schedule with a delay between doses does not interfere with the final immunity. There is no need to start the series over again, regardless of the time elapsed between doses. The need to routinely administer additional doses is unknown at this time.
Adults: Unvaccinated Adults: A primary series of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) is recommended for unvaccinated adults at increased risk of exposure to poliovirus. While the responses of adults to primary series have not been studied, the recommended schedule for adults is two doses given at a 1 to 2 month interval and a third dose given 6 to 12 months later. If less than 3 months but more than 2 months are available before protection is needed, three doses of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) should be given at least 1 month apart. Likewise, if only 1 or 2 months are available, two doses of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) should be given at least 1 month apart. If less than 1 month is available, a single dose of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) is recommended.
Incompletely Vaccinated Adults: Adults who are at an increased risk of exposure to poliovirus and who have had at least one dose of OPV, fewer than three doses of conventional IPV or a combination of conventional IPV or OPV totaling fewer than three doses should receive at least one dose of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3). Additional doses needed to complete a primary series should be given if time permits.
Completely Vaccinated Adults: Adults who are at an increased risk of exposure to poliovirus and who have previously completed a primary series with one or a combination of polio vaccines can be given a dose of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Type 1, 2 and 3).
The preferred injection site of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (Types 1, 2 and 3) for adults is in the deltoid area.