What is diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus vaccine?
Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus are serious diseases caused by bacteria.
Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airways. It can lead to breathing
problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.
Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing so severe that it interferes with eating, drinking, or
breathing. These spells can last for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, seizures (convulsions), brain
damage, and death.
Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead
to "locking" of the jaw so the victim cannot open the mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about
1 out of 10 cases.
Hepatitis B and polio are serious diseases caused by virus.
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver that is spread through blood or bodily fluids, sexual contact
or sharing IV drug needles with an infected person, or during childbirth when the mother is infected.
Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.
Polio affects the central nervous system and spinal cord. It can cause muscle weakness and
paralysis. Polio is a life-threatening condition because it can paralyze the muscles that help you breathe.
Diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis, and polio are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters
the body through a cut or wound.
The diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis acellular, polio, and tetanus vaccine is used to help prevent
these diseases in children who are ages 6 weeks to 6 years old, before the child has reached his or her
7th birthday.
This 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.
Like any vaccine, the diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis acellular, polio, and tetanus vaccine may
not provide protection from disease in every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus vaccine?
A hepatitis B vaccine will not protect your child against infection with hepatitis A, C, and E, or
other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect the child from hepatitis B if he or she is already
infected with the virus, even if the child does not yet show symptoms.
Your child should not receive this vaccine if the child is allergic to yeast, neomycin, or
polymyxin B, or if the child has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing
diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis, polio, or tetanus.
Your child should also not receive this vaccine if he or she has:
Your child may not be able to receive this vaccine if he or she has ever
received a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:
-
a very high fever (over 104 degrees);
-
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;
-
excessive crying for 3 hours or longer;
-
fainting or going into shock;
-
Guillain-Barré syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a
diphtheria, tetanus, or pertussis vaccine);
-
seizure (convulsions); or
-
a severe skin reaction.
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor if your child has:
-
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy
bruising;
-
a history of seizures;
-
an allergy to latex rubber;
-
a weak immune system caused by disease or by taking
certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments;
-
if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin
(Coumadin); or
-
if it has been less than 6 weeks since the child last received
a vaccine.
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.
How should I take diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus 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.
The diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis, polio, and tetanus vaccine is given in a series of shots.
The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4
months and 6 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 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 diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus 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 diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus vaccine?
Your pharmacist has information about diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus vaccine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus 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 diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis, polio, or tetanus is much more
dangerous to your child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. 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 the 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 (can occur for up to 4 days after the vaccine).
Less serious side effects include:
-
redness, pain, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given;
-
mild fever;
-
mild fussiness or crying;
-
joint pain, body aches;
-
loss of appetite; or
-
nausea, vomiting, 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 diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus vaccine?
The diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis, polio, and tetanus vaccine is given in a series of shots.
The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4
months and 6 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 diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis, polio, or tetanus is much more
dangerous to your child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. 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 diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus 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 diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus 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 received drugs or treatments in the past 2 weeks 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 drugs, he or she may not be able to receive
the vaccine.
There may be other drugs that can affect this vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the
prescription and over-the-counter medications your child has received. 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 diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis (acellular), polio, and tetanus vaccine?
