Multi-Dose Polio Vaccine Vial Expiration After Opening
For yellow fever vaccine (which provides the clearest multi-dose guidance), reconstituted multi-dose vials must be discarded within 1 hour when maintained at 2°C–8°C. 1
Critical Distinction: IPV vs OPV Storage Requirements
The available guidelines do not provide explicit "once-opened" expiration timeframes for multi-dose polio vaccine vials, but they establish critical storage principles:
Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV)
- IPV is sensitive to freezing and must be stored continuously at 2°C–8°C (35°F–46°F) 1
- IPV should never be frozen, as this can compromise potency 1
- Package insert instructions must be followed precisely for reconstitution and storage to ensure maximum potency 1
- Research shows that multi-dose IPV (IPOL) exposed to freezing for 7 days at -20°C demonstrated statistically significant decreases in D-antigen content for poliovirus types 1 and 3, though immunogenicity was preserved in animal models 2
Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV)
- OPV is extremely heat-sensitive and requires storage at -20°C until use 1
- OPV shows minimal virus titer loss when stored at -20°C or 4–8°C for 21 days 3
- At room temperature (22°C), OPV loses approximately 1.50 log TCID50 after 21 days 3
- At high temperatures (36°C), OPV shows almost complete loss of virus titer within 21 days 3
- Vaccine vial monitors (VVMs) may be unreliable at temperatures above 45°C, reaching discard point after the vaccine has already lost potency 4
Practical Guidance for Multi-Dose Vials
General Principle
When in doubt about appropriate handling of any vaccine, contact the manufacturer immediately 1
Key Storage Rules
- All vaccines must be inspected to ensure the cold chain was maintained during shipment and storage 1
- Vaccines should be stored at recommended temperatures immediately upon receipt 1
- Mishandled vaccine may not be visually distinguishable from potent vaccine 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Never assume visual inspection is adequate – compromised vaccine often appears normal 1
- Do not rely solely on VVMs in high-temperature environments (>45°C) for OPV, as they may indicate safety after potency is lost 4
- Never use expired vaccine – doses given with expired vaccine should not be counted as valid and must be repeated after a 28-day interval 1
Manufacturer Package Insert is Authoritative
The definitive answer for any specific multi-dose polio vaccine vial's post-opening expiration must come from that product's package insert 1. The yellow fever vaccine standard of 1-hour post-reconstitution provides the only explicit multi-dose timeframe in these guidelines, but this applies specifically to reconstituted yellow fever vaccine, not necessarily to polio vaccines 1.