IPV vaccine is "Inactivated Poliovaccine" or salk vaccine which helps prevent Poliomyelitis (Polio). Polio is a virus that comes from your throat and stools. Polio is most commonly spread through the fecal-oral route (somehow getting stools into mouth-like unclean drinking water). The infection has become uncommon due to the distribution of vaccinations throughout the world. Polio can be asymptomatic (show no symptoms), but the symptoms that occur may be headache, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, constipation, stiff neck, flaccid paralysis, decreased tendon reflexes and muscle wasting. Spinal fluid may show increased leukocytes (white blood cells). The most severe symptoms of polio include spinal and bulbar poliomyelitis. Spinal poliomyelitis involves paralysis of shoulder and diaphragm which may make it difficult to breathe. With bulbar paralysis, you may have facial weakness, difficulty chewing, difficulty swallowing or spit saliva, may regurgitate fluids, and eventually lead to respiratory paralysis which may lead to coma due to lack of ability to breath in oxygen. That is why it is important to become vaccinated. Too many people think that vaccines cause problems and medical conditions such as autism, but until there is full proof of this, I recommend getting the vaccination. In most all circumstances, the benefits of the vaccination outweigh the risks. People have developed vaccinations to help prevent many severe disorders and illnesses from happening to us now. If you look back in history people died very young and a lot of children did not make it into adulthood due to these debilitating diseases. For those that are not vaccinated, they are imposed to increase risk of infection of the polio virus and also may expose the polio virus to others unknowingly.

Normally people have a series of three vaccinations. Most children have IPV vaccination at two months, four months and somewhere between six and eighteen months. This is usually done at their well-child visits. They should be administered by two doses with 0.5 ml subcutaneously (injected into fat-with smaller needle) four to eight weeks apart and the final dose (third) should be given six to twelve months after the second dose. For those who are traveling outside the United States, whom are fully vaccinated, should receive a booster before leaving. This is a one-time only booster. Talk to your primary care provider if you or your children have not become fully vaccinated with IPV.

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