What is haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
Haemophilus B is a type of influenza (flu) caused by bacteria.
Haemophilus B bacteria can infect the lungs or throat, and can also spread to the blood, bones,
joints, brain, or spinal cord. It can cause breathing problems or meningitis, and these infections can be
fatal.
Haemophilus B disease can spread from one person to another through small droplets of saliva
that are expelled into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The bacteria can also be
passed through contact with objects the infected person has touched, such as a door handle, or other
surface. The bacteria can also be passed through kissing, or sharing a drinking glass or eating utensil
with an infected person.
Haemophilus B conjugate vaccine is used to prevent infection caused by haemophilus B
bacteria, and is sometimes combined with vaccines to protect against other diseases. Haemophilus B
vaccine will not protect against other types of influenza.
Haemophilus B conjugate vaccine works by exposing your child to a small dose of the bacteria
or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine
will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
Haemophilus B conjugate vaccine is for use in children between the ages of 2 months and
18 months old.
Like any vaccine, haemophilus B conjugate vaccine may not provide protection from disease in
every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had an allergic reaction to a
haemophilus B or a tetanus vaccine, or if the child has received cancer chemotherapy or radiation
treatment in the past 3 months.
Before receiving haemophilus B conjugate vaccine, tell your child's doctor if the child is allergic
to any drugs, or has:
-
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy
bruising;
-
a history of seizures;
-
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if
this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
-
an allergy to latex rubber;
-
a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow
transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
-
if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin
(Coumadin).
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this vaccine is
harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive the vaccine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
Haemophilus B conjugate vaccine should not be given to a woman who is breast-feeding a
baby.
How should I take haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in
a doctor's office or other clinic setting.
Haemophilus B conjugate vaccine is given to children between the ages of 2 months and 18
months old. It may also be given to an older child with a medical conditions such as HIV or AIDS,
sickle cell disease, or who is receiving cancer treatments or a bone marrow transfusion.
The haemophilus B conjugate vaccine is given in a series of shots. In most cases, this vaccine is
given as 2 separate shots, 2 months apart. A booster dose is then given 2 months after the last shot, or
no later than 18 months of age.
Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your
doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a more
severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this
vaccine.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as
acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the
next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this
medicine to give your child.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder
such as epilepsy.
What happens if I miss a dose of haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
Contact your doctor if you will miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The next
dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Where can I get more information about haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
Your pharmacist has information about haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When the
child receives another haemophilus B vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the child's doctor if the
first shot caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with haemophilus B is much more dangerous to your child's health than
receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but
the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if your child has any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if your child has any of these serious side effects:
-
extreme drowsiness, fainting;
-
fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer;
-
seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
-
high fever (within a few hours or a few days after the
vaccine).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
redness, pain, swelling, or a lump where the shot was given;
-
low fever;
-
mild fussiness or crying;
-
joint pain, body aches;
-
drowsiness; or
-
diarrhea.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
The haemophilus B conjugate vaccine is given in a series of shots. In most cases, this vaccine is
given as 2 separate shots, 2 months apart. A booster dose is then given 2 months after the last shot, or
no later than 18 months of age.
Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your
doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a more
severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this
vaccine.
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic
reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When the child
receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with haemophilus B is much more dangerous to your child's health than
receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but
the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
What should I avoid while taking haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving this vaccine
unless your child's doctor has told you otherwise.
What other drugs will affect haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has recently
received.
Also tell the doctor if your child has recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the
immune system, including:
-
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
-
medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or
other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept
(Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
-
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection,
such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3
(Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
If your child is using any of these medications, he or she may not be able to
receive haemophilus B conjugate vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect haemophilus B conjugate vaccine. Tell your
doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications your child uses. This includes
vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new
medication without telling your child's doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?
