Imovax Polio is a vaccine that helps protect against poliomyelitis (polio), a serious disease caused by poliovirus.
IMOVAX POLIO is listed under Health Canada DIN 01959042. The product record and monograph below describe this formulation; the dose schedule comes from the Canadian Immunization Guide.
At a glance
Brand
IMOVAX POLIO
DIN
01959042
Vaccine
Inactivated poliovirus (types 1, 2, 3)
Presentation
0.5 mL · solution · subcutaneous · 6 weeks and older
Live vaccine
No
Age and suitability depend on the product, the person and the reason for vaccination. Use the planner for a starting point and confirm with a healthcare professional.
Official sources
Use the DIN to confirm this exact product in Health Canada's Drug Product Database.
A listed product may not be stocked or publicly funded.
Before and after your vaccination
Bring your immunization record if you have one, so earlier doses can be checked.
Tell the healthcare professional about a serious reaction to a previous vaccine or an ingredient, and mention any health conditions or medicines that could affect your vaccination.
After the dose, stay where you can be observed for at least 15 minutes. Tell someone right away if you feel faint or develop symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Keep a record of the vaccine name, date and dose you received.
The details below are adapted from a Pharmasist patient handout linked to the same product monograph. The current Canadian Immunization Guide determines the dose schedules shown later.
What this vaccine helps prevent
Imovax Polio is a vaccine that helps protect against poliomyelitis (polio), a serious disease caused by poliovirus.
It protects against all three types of poliovirus.
What to mention before a dose
Tell the person giving the vaccine if you or your child has ever had an allergic reaction to this vaccine or to any of its ingredients.
Tell them if you or your child is allergic to the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin, or polymyxin B, since tiny leftover traces of these can be present in the vaccine.
Tell them if you or your child has a bleeding problem or takes blood thinners.
Tell them if you or your child is currently sick with a fever, since vaccination may need to be delayed.
How it is given
Imovax Polio is given as a shot under the skin, usually in the thigh for infants and young children, or the upper arm for older children and adults.
It is given by a doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional, not something you give yourself at home.
Important things to know
Like any vaccine, Imovax Polio can rarely cause a serious allergic reaction, usually within minutes of the injection.
Fainting can happen after any vaccination, sometimes even before the shot is given, as a reaction to seeing the needle. You may be watched for a few minutes afterward so this can be caught early.
A nerve condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome, which causes weakness that can spread through the body, has rarely been linked in time to a similar polio vaccine, though it has not been proven to be caused by the vaccine.
Effects you may notice
Redness where the shot was given.
Pain where the shot was given.
A firm lump where the shot was given.
A mild fever, especially in babies.
Sore muscles or joints for a few days.
A rash or hives.
Numbness or tingling, mainly in the arms or legs, that can appear up to two weeks after the shot.
Feeling unusually restless, sleepy, or irritable in the hours or days after the shot.
When to contact a healthcare professional
Contact your provider if swelling of a lymph gland develops.
Contact your provider if numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs does not go away.
Contact your provider about a fever that is high or does not go away.
When to get emergency help
Get help right away for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, or throat, trouble breathing, or a widespread rash.
Get help right away for a seizure or fainting that leads to a fall or injury.
Other medicines and vaccines
This vaccine is given by injection, not by mouth, so food and alcohol are not expected to affect it.
This vaccine can usually be given at the same visit as other childhood vaccines, using a separate needle and a different injection site.
Tell your provider about any medicines that weaken the immune system, since these can make the vaccine less effective.
Key points to remember
Keep your or your child's immunization record up to date and bring it to every vaccine visit.
Watch the injection site for a few days after vaccination and contact your provider with any concerns.
These are Canadian Immunization Guide schedules associated with this DIN. The right schedule depends on age, health, prior doses and reason for vaccination. Public health recommendations may differ from a product monograph's authorized schedule.
Polio (IPV) — primary series for people 7 and older never immunized
3 doses
Three doses at 0, 1 to 2 months and 6 to 12 months.
For people who were never immunized, or not fully immunized, against polio and need protection (travel, work, outbreak). Dose 2 at least 4 weeks after dose 1; dose 3 at least 6 months after dose 2. Infants and young children receive polio vaccine within a combination product instead. Adults who completed a series may need one lifetime booster for travel to polio-affected areas.
Family guidance on pregnancy: Tdap is recommended in every pregnancy, irrespective of immunization history, ideally at 27 to 32 weeks. Polio (IPV) may be considered for a non-immune person at increased risk; Hib when a predisposing condition is present.
Family guidance on breastfeeding: Tdap is recommended if no adult dose has been given; polio and Hib are used if indicated.
General information only. A suggested date is not an appointment or a prescription; a healthcare professional confirms what you need. Clinical rules reviewed on 2026-09-27.