Poliovirus Vaccine, Live, Oral, Trivalent

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: poliovirus vaccine, live, oral, trivalent; oral polio vaccine; Orimune

What is this medicine used for?

This vaccine is given by mouth to prevent polio.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have:

• an allergic reaction to neomycin or streptomycin
• HIV infection
• a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or any other infection.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while receiving this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This vaccine is given by a health care provider. The liquid can be squeezed directly into the person's mouth, or it may be mixed with water or milk or put on cake, bread, or sugar cubes.

Babies should receive 3 doses. The usual age for the first dose is 6 to 12 weeks of age. The second dose should be given 8 weeks after the first dose. The third dose is given at 6 to 18 months of age. Booster doses are suggested when the child starts school at 4-6 years of age, unless the third dose of was given after the child's fourth birthday.

Older children, teenagers, and adults who have not taken the vaccine should take 2 doses 6 to 8 weeks apart and the third dose 6 to 12 months after the second dose.

A booster dose may be needed for travelers and families of children who are to be given oral poliovirus vaccine.

The oral polio vaccine may be given at the same time as other routine childhood shots, such as DPT and pneumonia shots. Other live virus vaccines should be given at least 1 month apart from the oral polio vaccine.

What should I watch out for?

Several doses are required to provide total protection against polio. It is very important that you receive all of the doses on schedule.

When children are given this vaccine, adults in the same household may need to get it also. The virus can be passed via the stool or the child's saliva. Wash your hands after changing your child's diaper or taking your child's temperature.

You should not receive intramuscular (into a muscle) shots of antibiotics for at least 1 month after you take this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Paralysis, hives, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. This vaccine may not protect you from polio if you receive it while you are taking:

• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), prednisone (Meticorten, Deltasone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol), hydrocortisone (Hydrocortone, Cortef), triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and methylprednisolone (Medrol)
• medicines to suppress your immune system such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) and cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• radiation therapy.

A vaccine for cholera must be given 1 month apart from this vaccine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.