Boostrix Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Boostrix is a vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis components (Tdap). It is given as a booster shot to help the body build protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). It is given by injection into the muscle of the upper arm and is used in adolescents, adults, older adults, and during pregnancy according to national vaccination schedules.

What is Boostrix Injection

Boostrix is a vaccine that contains non-infectious parts of the bacteria that cause diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). It is used as a booster shot to help the body build protection against these three serious diseases.

Boostrix Injection uses

• Booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in people aged 10 years and older (in the US) or 4 years and older (in Australia)
• Given during the second or third trimester of pregnancy to help protect newborn babies from pertussis before they receive their own infant vaccinations
• Given for tetanus protection after a wound that may be prone to tetanus infection
• Used as part of national childhood immunization schedules (such as at 11 years of age) as a booster after earlier childhood vaccines

Benefits of Boostrix Injection

• Helps protect against tetanus.
• Helps protect against diphtheria.
• Helps protect against pertussis (whooping cough).
• Boosts immunity in people who were previously vaccinated against these diseases.
• During pregnancy, vaccination can help provide passive protection to the newborn against pertussis in the first months of life.
• Helps reduce the risk of serious complications caused by tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

How Boostrix Injection works

Boostrix works by exposing the body to small, non-infectious pieces of the bacteria that cause diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. This causes the immune system to make its own protective antibodies against these diseases. It cannot cause the diseases itself, and it will not treat an infection that has already started in the body.

Boostrix Injection dosage

Boostrix is given by a doctor or nurse as a shot into the muscle of the upper arm. It should never be given into a vein. It is usually given as a single booster dose, so a missed dose is unlikely. It has been used with other vaccines given at the same time, as long as separate syringes and different injection sites are used.

Available forms and strengths

• Injection (suspension for injection)
• Prefilled syringe

Side effects of Boostrix Injection

Common

• Mild pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given
• Headache
• Tiredness or sleepiness
• Body aches, joint stiffness, or muscle ache
• Mild nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Fever
• Loss of appetite (in children)
• Irritability (in children)
• Flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, cough, and chills
• Swollen glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
• Dizziness or excessive sweating

Serious

• Signs of a severe allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, mouth, or throat
• Numbness, weakness, or tingling in the feet and legs
• Problems with walking or coordination
• Sudden pain in the arms or shoulders
• A light-headed feeling, like you might faint, or actual fainting
• Vision problems or ringing in the ears
• Seizures (with or without fever)
• Severe pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding where the shot was given
• High fever (more than 39°C or over 104°F)
• Large swelling of the injected arm or leg
• Unusual weakness

Warnings and precautions

• Do not receive Boostrix if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a vaccine containing tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis.
• Do not receive Boostrix if you had a brain-related neurologic disorder within 7 days after a previous pertussis vaccine.
• People with a severe infection and fever should wait until they are better before getting the vaccine; minor colds are not usually a problem.
• Tell your doctor about other vaccines or medicines that weaken the immune system, since these may affect when or whether you can receive Boostrix.
• Certain past reactions to vaccines, such as a very high fever, fainting, severe injection-site reactions, seizure disorders, or Guillain-Barré syndrome, mean you may not be able to receive Boostrix.
• Boostrix may be given during the second or third trimester of pregnancy to help protect the baby from whooping cough in the first months of life. A doctor should decide whether it is needed during pregnancy, and pregnant women may be listed on a registry to track outcomes.
• It is not known whether the vaccine passes into breast milk, but no harmful effects have been seen in breastfed babies whose mothers were vaccinated. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
• No specific dose adjustment is normally required for kidney function. People with significant kidney disease or weakened immunity should discuss vaccination with their healthcare provider.
• No specific liver-related dose adjustment is normally required.
• Talk with your doctor about alcohol use before receiving Boostrix.
• Boostrix is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines, but be careful until you know how the vaccine affects you.

Storage

• Store refrigerated at 2–8°C (36–46°F).
• Keep in the original packaging to protect from light.
• Do not freeze; discard the vaccine if it has been frozen.
• Keep refrigerated until ready for administration.
• Do not use after the expiry date or if proper storage conditions were not maintained.
• Keep securely stored and out of reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you notice signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, or hives.
• Call your doctor right away if within 7 days of the shot you have numbness, weakness or tingling in your feet or legs, trouble walking, sudden arm or shoulder pain, feeling faint, vision problems, ringing in the ears, seizures, or severe reactions where the shot was given.
• Contact a doctor immediately or go to the emergency department if you notice a fever above a certain level, crying for 3 hours or more, collapse, periods of unconsciousness, or seizures.

Alternatives

• Repevax (Tdap-IPV)
• Revaxis (Td-IPV)
• Tenivac (Td)
• Td Vaccine
• Adacel (Tdap)